Walk down Main Street in Bel Air and you'll see the names and faces of Harford County veterans being honored by family and friends.
The banners, hanging on light posts downtown, are part of a first-time program initiated by the Bel Air Downtown Alliance where people were invited to purchase the banners recognizing their loved ones in correlation with the town's Veterans Day observance, which began Thursday and will continue through Saturday.
"We are VERY happy with the participation," Scott Walker, Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance, wrote in an e-mail Wednesday afternoon. "We have 29 banners on display and are extremely honored to have been entrusted by the families of the various hometown heroes to honor their fathers, sons, brothers, daughters and sisters."
To sponsor a banner cost $200, with proceeds going toward the actual production of the banner, Toys for Tots, the Bel Air Veteran's Day parade, the Harford County Historical Society and the Downtown Alliance to recoup expenses.
The original idea for the banner program came from Toni McCracken, owner of Tiger Lily and a member of the alliance's design committee.
McCracken had seen something similar done in her hometown of Williamsport, Pa., and felt that honoring local veterans this way would be great for the town and its residents.
"I have to say, driving down Main Street yesterday on a beautiful day seeing the banners being hung truly brought chill bumps to me, as well as being a bit emotional," McCracken wrote in an e-mail Wednesday night. "I am so excited to see them up, and think this is a wonderful way to bring our great town together."
Both Walker and McCracken have heard positive feedback from locals on the banners.
"I have personally received several wonderful compliments and thanks, as well. I know it is something that we will be able to pull our community into to honor our service men and women," McCracken continued.
Walker said Thursday that he's seen family members who sponsored banners post on their Facebook pages how much they loved how the program turned out.
"I'm already getting emails from people who participated [are] are blown away by it," he said.
The alliance hopes to continue with the program not only for next year's Veterans Day, but also for Memorial Day, too.
"We fully intend to do this again in 2012 and beyond," Walker wrote. "We are looking at Memorial Day as another stretch of time to hang the banners."
McCracken agreed, writing, "It is my goal to see more of these banners up and to see them up on all of Main Street for a longer period of time."
The program's first year was fairly successful, Walker said, raising $5,600. The alliance "will be making a sizable donation to the Harford County Historical Society [$1,500] to help offset the costs of the Veterans Day parade and to Harford County's Toys for Tots [also $1,500] to aid in the purchase of toys for Harford County families in need this holiday season."