City, community working to become more veteran friendly

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A flag stating support or all branches of the military flies at the Hazel Tilton Park in Jacksonville. The city and community leaders are working to expand the outward show of support by placing signs at its entryways. Progress photo by Faith Harper

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July 16, 2012

City, community working to become more veteran friendly

Faith Harper Jacksonville Daily Progress The Jacksonville Daily Progress Mon Jul 16, 2012, 01:29 PM CDT

JACKSONVILLE — The City of Jacksonville and the Lone Star Military Resource Group (LSMRG) are working to put a friendly welcome to military personnel and their families at the entrance ways into Jacksonville.

The city and surrounding community entered into a Community Covenant on May 20, 2011. Julianne Sanford, with LSMRG and ACCESS, said the Community Covenant is a platform to inspire and build community support for local military and veteran families. She said it works to join community members and their services to military families who may have financial, spiritual or emotional needs.

She said there are also close ties to the city of Tyler through the Andrews Center and Veterans Round Table and to several groups in Palestine, Alto, Bullard and Rusk.

“The word community, it is nice to put in a box and think of it as the town or county you live in, but we try not to draw those lines on this,” Sanford said. “Anyone interested in learning about ways they can put a military specialty on what they already do (can get involved). They don't have to send care packages to Afghanistan to be military friendly.”

As part of the covenant, Sanford went to the June Jacksonville City Council meeting and asked if the city would allow a sign at each entrance way to promote the town's military friendliness.

City Manager Mo Raissi said he is in favor of the signs.

“She came and talked to the council about this and the only thing was how and when we are going to do that and to make sure we met all the requirements of TxDOT and the cities ordinances,” he said.

Raissi said the sign could not be placed on the city's or TxDOT's right of way. The city also prohibits building any more billboards. He said the sign ordinances are so strict, the city had to amend them to allow for the concrete tomatoes to be palced on sidewalks.

Sanford said originally the group wanted to build a sign above the existing rock-engraved Jacksonville sign on U.S. Highway 69.

“Financially it would be very expensive to build above the sign,” she said. “I really want something permanent like that.”

Although, she said, her practical side could not spend the money of a rock sign when the money could go to put seeds in the hands of military farmers or to provide services to someone in need.

Raissi said firefighter Dan Parsons designed a banner that could potentially be placed on billboards owned by the Jacksonville Chamber.

Sanford said she loved the initial design and will take the prototype to the LSMRG meeting on Wednesday. But, Raissi said before any banner can be placed, approval must be gained from the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.

At the same council meeting, Sanford presented the city with a flag which said “We Support our Troops” and carried the logos of each branch of the armed forces. The flag is flying underneath the city of Jacksonville flag at Hazel Tilton Park.

“We are so grateful for that they are flying that flag,” Sanford said. “I'm getting misty thinking about it.”

She said anyone interested an a flag can get one for a $10 donation, although she said residents do not have to fly a flag to show their patriotism.

“If everyone would put a yellow ribbon on these wonderful tomatoes everywhere, that would send the message,” she said. “Someone passing through Jacksonville would know this place is a very patriotic place, and patriotic people are very military friendly.”

Sanford said she also has a vision of a giant yellow ribbon and the words “Welcome Home” painted on the city's water tower.

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City, community working to become more veteran friendly

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