The City of Tulare Military Banner Program was established to recognize, honor, and pay tribute to our local military service personnel. Banners honoring our brave service men and women will be proudly displayed in the City of Tulare as a way for our community to express its gratitude for their service to our country. Banners will be installed annually to fly from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.

The Military Banner Program is administered and managed by and through the City of Tulare. The City of Tulare Military Banner Program Guidelines provide details on how to participate in the program including eligibility requirements and the application process. For additional information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (559) 684-4200.

2024 Military Banner Application Period, Cost, and Deadlines

The City will begin accepting applications on January 8, 2024. Completed applications, photos, and payment must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 16, 2024, to allow adequate time for banner production. The banner application may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, 411 East Kern Avenue, Tulare as well as online at www.tulare.ca.gov. Applications will be reviewed by the City on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Eligibility

To qualify, the Honoree must be a current or past member of the Unites States Armed Forces. The Honoree’s discharge from the military service must be honorable. The Honoree must have a connection to Tulare by either being born, raised, resided/residing in Tulare or attended school in Tulare.

Applications must include proof of eligibility. Proof of eligibility includes, but is not limited to: DD 214 Form, possession of a United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card (U.S. Military ID, Geneva Conventions Identification Card, Common Access Card or USPIC or Active Military Service Organization Membership Card). This is an identity document issued by the United States Department of Defense to identify a person as a member of the Armed Forces. In addition, possession of a DA Form 2-1 (Enlisted Record Brief) or DA Pam 600-8 (Officer Record Brief). An Enlisted or Officer Record Brief is a one-page Army form that provides a summary of an enlisted member's qualifications and career history. The City of Tulare will not retain Military ID but will review the ID at time of application submittal for verification.

Resources for Military Verification:

• Tulare County Veteran Services Office in Visalia (559) 713-2880
• National Archives https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

For residency verification, you must provide documentation with the application that proves the honoree was either born in Tulare, attended school in Tulare, or has resided or currently resides in Tulare. This may include a birth record, school record, or utility bill.

Pricing

A banner costs $295, which includes design, printing, installation, removal, and rehanging in subsequent years for up to four years. You may choose to solicit sponsorship from local businesses or organizations using the Sponsorship Form to help cover this cost. Pricing is subject to change without notice. The fee for participation is determined by the costs of the banner which includes production, installation, removal, and rehanging and shall be borne by the applicant and/or sponsor. If you are unable to pay the full amount and have been unsuccessful at soliciting sponsorships, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.

Due to wear of banner caused by age and weather, and for public safety, banners that have been hung for four program years are not eligible to be re-hung. The City reserves the right to not hang a banner, regardless of age, due to premature aging, damage, or other safety issue. A new banner may be purchased by going through the application process again.

Location/Installation

The City of Tulare will be responsible for the installation and removal of the banners. Banners will be installed on streetlight poles throughout the City. The number of and specific banner locations will be determined solely by the City of Tulare and may be revised without prior notice. Banners will be installed annually from Memorial Day through Veterans Day. After the designated display period, banners will be removed and stored by the City.

Banner Styles

Banners will be designed and purchased by the City of Tulare as determined by the City of Tulare. The design will include Tulare Hometown Heroes at the top, the rank and name of the honoree, the conflict/era and military branch in which they served, photograph of honoree in uniform, and the name of sponsor (if applicable). Banners will be produced in full-color, double-sided, and measure approximately 30” x 84”.

Waiver

Banners will be produced using the information provided on the application. As such, the City of Tulare is not responsible for any spelling errors or incorrect information on the banners.

The City of Tulare is not responsible for replacing banners that are stolen, damaged, or destroyed due to age, weather, sun, vandalism, or any acts of nature including high winds. The City may, however, choose to assist with the reinstallation of banners that have fallen off the pole due to extreme elements.

By applying for and receiving approval to sponsor a banner, each applicant and/or sponsor agrees to indemnify and hold the City of Tulare, its elected officials, officers, employees, agents, and volunteers free and harmless with respect to any and all liabilities, claims, lawsuits and/or damages of any nature whatsoever that allegedly arise from or are connected to the approval of the applicant’s banner application, including the display of, and/or damage to or loss of any banner or banners.

2024 Military Banner Program Guidelines
2024 Military Banner Program Application
2024 Military Banner Program Sponsorship Form