Edison Arts Society sponsors the Hometown Heroes program, with a twist

EDISON – Edison Arts Society sponsors the Hometown Heroes banner program, but it does it with a twist.

While other cities honor fallen service members, Edison will honor those currently serving.

This is the first year that the Edison Arts Society has participated in the program.

“While I was working for the Board of Elections in October, we made several stops in many other towns, and I noticed that Woodbridge, Sayreville and South Amboy had these posters attached to lamp posts or telephone poles. And they were beautiful,” said Gloria S. Dittman, president of the Edison Arts Society.

So Dittman took to the information highway to find out more about the program.

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“I went online and asked a lot of questions,” Dittman said. “I ended up talking to two or three people in upstate New York, and they were very, very nice, gave me a lot of information and that was the start. They all says it was a wonderful thing for the community, that people felt happy when they saw their names, or their last names, and I just think that’s a beautiful thing.”

The Edison Arts Society (EAS) requires at least 15 names to submit to the printer. So far they have two.

“I would like to have at least 15 names by March or April so we can have the banners for Memorial Day,” Dittman said. All must be those currently serving honorably.

Each photo will be placed on a banner that will be affixed to a lamp post at Edison.

“We hope to place them along Municipal Boulevard, where our City Hall is, and along Route 27,” Dittman said of the banners. Banners will be displayed from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.

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“I would say other cities charge people after they submit their photos and forms, but the Edison Arts Society wants to pay for that,” Dittman said. “In other cities they are charged up to $100.”

Edison Township Mayor Thomas Lankey said Dittman “has been very supportive of EAS and has helped bring this program to fruition.”

Although this is the first year the Edison Arts Society has participated in the program, the township has honored its hometown heroes in other ways.

“Currently, Edison honors those who have died, who served and who may still be living, but we give them their names. And we thought it would be a little bit different and it wouldn’t be a problem for whoever. whether or not it would hurt anyone, if we honored those who are currently serving,” Dittman said.

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“What we put in the form is that they don’t need to be currently deployed to be included in this. I think it’s important to note that. This is an invitation to all military men, women, who are currently serving. We just wanted to say thank you,” Dittman said. In addition to the form, proof of service and that the person is serving honorably, as well as a photograph, must be provided.

To receive the Hometown Heroes form, email Dittman at gloriadittman14@gmail.com or call her at 732-548-9134. For more information, visit The Edison Arts Society Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheEdisonArtsSociety.

Brad Wadlow is a writer for MyCentralJersey.com. Email: bwadlow@gannettnj.com.