Driving around Lancaster County, Bob Smith noticed something. Many of the towns surrounding Columbia had banners displayed, recognizing people who have served or are serving in the military. He wanted Columbia to honor veterans in the same way.

"It was on my mind to do this for a long time," he said of Columbia Hometown Heroes, a banner project he is spearheading with Roger Wallace. "Columbia, for a small town, has a high percentage of people who have served in the military."

Smith, who served in the Air Force, went to a Columbia Borough Council meeting with his idea and received a warm welcome. "The idea was accepted with open arms," he said, noting that the Columbia Public Works Department is also on board and has agreed to install the banners throughout town.

In collaboration with Wallace, Smith assembled a committee to work on the project. The committee includes Columbia VFW Post 2435 commander Dwight Kreitz, George Contrestand, Robin Gamby and Donald Arndt.

Smith noted that he wasn't sure what to do first with the project, but he found help from other communities. "The Marietta American Legion got us started," he said. "They have been very helpful."

The committee is currently taking orders for the banners, which will feature a common background design with customized information including the person's name, rank, branch of service and years of service. The group hopes to install the first wave of banners by Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11.

"We'll start at Locust Street and Lancaster Avenue, starting in the middle of town and working our way out," Smith said. Wallace, an Air Force veteran, noted that people can also choose to display a banner at their home, which he plans to do to honor his father, a World War II vet and POW who participated in the D-Day invasion.

Banners may honor living or deceased veterans and any active-duty military personnel who have a connection to Columbia, Wallace stated. "It's for anybody with ties to Columbia. They could have lived here, worked here, been born here," he explained.

Smith said he's excited to see the project come to fruition. "Columbia has a deep history of military service, and this is long overdue as a way to honor that service," he remarked. "It's a way to honor the people who served and also to help our community understand why we have the freedom we have today."

Orders for banners may be placed by completing an application, which will be available at the Columbia VFW Post 2435, 401 Manor St., as well as at local fraternal organizations and a few businesses. Applications may also be found by searching for "Columbia Hometown Heroes" on Facebook, emailing ColumbiaHometownHeroes@gmail.com or calling Wallace at 717-805-1537.