WHY THE BANNERS?

WHY THE BANNERS?

I decided to begin the banner project after meeting a friend for lunch in Independence last November. As I returned to my truck, I looked up and saw a banner honoring a man I knew who had served in World War II. I walked about eight blocks and saw banners throughout the town honoring veterans and active-duty service members. The display struck me as a powerful tribute, and I began wondering how we might create something similar here.

Since starting the project, I have come to see the banners as more than a tribute. Many have been purchased by the children and grandchildren of veterans, especially those who served in World War II and Vietnam. I have repeatedly heard a similar story: a father returned from World War II, found a job, raised a family, and rarely spoke about the war. Several people have told me they wish they had asked more questions. Some returning service members lived with what was then called “battle fatigue,” a condition now commonly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Without the support available today, many may have felt unable to discuss what they had experienced with their parents, spouses, or children. Others who served but did not enter combat may also have struggled with guilt, particularly when friends or relatives did not return. These stories have convinced me that honoring veterans also means preserving the experiences families did not know to ask about.

When I began the project, I wondered how I would find the names of local World War II veterans. I eventually found a Kansas archives site listing people who served from 1940 through 1946. Although the United States did not officially enter the war until December 1941, the conflict in Europe began in 1939, and many American service members remained overseas after the fighting ended in 1945. According to the archive, 6,501 men and women from Montgomery County served during those years. The county’s 1940 population was about 38,000, so the number who served was equivalent to roughly 17 percent of the population. That comparison does not mean 17 percent of every demographic group left for war, but it does suggest the extraordinary scale of the county’s contribution and the pressure placed on local families and the workforce. At home, gasoline and many foods were rationed, and items such as sugar, coffee, dairy products, clothing, vegetables, and meat were difficult to obtain. Victory Gardens helped families supplement limited supplies, illustrating how deeply the war affected daily life.

Vietnam was different: it was an intensely unpopular war at home. As a veteran of that era, I remember how limited the choices could seem to young men finishing high school during the 1960s: attend college, enlist, wait to be drafted, or leave the country. Even college could postpone rather than eliminate the possibility of military service. Many veterans served because they believed they had little practical choice. That history helps explain why Jane Fonda’s 1972 visit to Hanoi remains deeply painful for many Vietnam veterans, especially because American prisoners of war were being held there. For veterans who felt compelled into service and then returned to a divided country, the visit became a lasting symbol of that division.

When Vietnam veterans returned home, the reception they received varied by year and place, but many encountered hostility or indifference. Like many World War II veterans, they often chose not to discuss their experiences. For some, talking about Vietnam risked turning a personal story into a political argument. As a result, many found understanding primarily among other veterans. The banners offer the wider community a chance to provide some of the recognition that was missing when they came home.

So why the banners? They are a visible way to express our gratitude each year to veterans and active-duty service members. They also help preserve stories that are disappearing. Most World War II veterans have now died, and those still living are over 100 years old. My generation did not ask our fathers enough questions, so much of what we know now comes from books, films, and articles. I hope that when the banners go up each year, they prompt younger people to notice the names, ask about the lives behind them, and understand what earlier generations gave up for our way of life.

This banner project has been a remarkable learning experience for me, and I invite you to explore the list of local World War II veterans at cvillemilitarybanners.org. You may recognize a name or know the relative of a veteran whose family has moved away from Coffeyville. If so, contact that family and share the site. Every connection can help recover a story, honor a service member, and preserve part of our community’s history.

Thank you for participating in and supporting this effort to honor our veterans, recognize active-duty service members, and preserve their stories for future generations.

Regards, 

Jerry Wall