PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is accepting nominations for the first-ever Long Beach Honors Veterans banner program. The Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) Office of Veterans Support and the Long Beach Veterans Commission will oversee the administration of up to 25 banners to be displayed across the city for one year beginning in May 2024.

“We are proud to introduce the inaugural Long Beach Honors Veterans Banner Program,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This initiative provides our community with a meaningful avenue to honor those who have selflessly served our country. Through this program, we encourage nominations for deserving veterans who are integral members of our vibrant Long Beach community.’’

The community is encouraged to nominate a veteran, living or deceased, who was in Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard to be honored with a light pole banner. To be eligible, the nominated veteran must meet one of the following criteria: 

• Born, raised or currently working or residing in Long Beach
• Educated in Long Beach 
• Formerly stationed at or worked at the Long Beach Naval Station or Shipyard (the former Long Beach Naval Complex, which closed in 1997, comprised the Long Beach Naval Station and the adjacent Long Beach Naval Shipyard)

Nominations for the Long Beach Honors Veterans banner program are now open and will be accepted through March 31, 2024. Applicants will be asked to explain why the veteran should be honored, provide a short bio for the nominee, send a photo (black and white or color) of the nominee, and grant permission for the use of the veteran’s photo on a light pole banner. Veterans will be selected on a first come, first served basis; any complete and eligible applications that were not selected for the inaugural year will be honored in the following banner program pending additional funding.

The banners will be installed in time for Memorial Day. People are encouraged to submit an application using the Veterans Banner Program nomination form or by visiting longbeach.gov/veterans.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Long Beach Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on Instagram, Facebook and X.