Elk Grove Honoring Veterans With Banners Along Elk Grove Boulevard
ELK GROVE (CBS13) — A Vietnam veteran is getting a big thank you from his wife and the city.
New banners have been approved to line Elk Grove Boulevard to honor veterans from their home town.
"It's a shock, it's a surprise, and it's an honor," said Corporal Lee J. Scherman of Elk Grove.
Now he has a spot on the boulevard for everyone to look up and say thank you.
"Everybody says, 'Thank you for your service.' We didn't get that when I came home. I'm getting it now, so it is a great honor," he said.
Scherman served in the early 60s, starting out as a radio operator.
"I wanted to go to Cuba and fight for America," he said.
Then he was deployed to Vietnam.
"I had so many other Marines from World War II that lived in the Elk Grove area that I worked for, for one time or another, I decided Marines is what I wanted and I was able to go and I was able to serve and I would do it all over again," Sherman said.
The City of Elk Grove wanted to find a way to honor some of their 9,000 veterans from the city.
"It means a lot that their community is recognizing them and appreciating their service," said Kristyn Nelson, Spokesperson with the city.
Soon, a total of 9-foot banners will stretch along side Elk Grove Boulevard and will one day lead towards a new Veterans Hall.
Scherman's is first of 14 banners already aloft.
"It's because Sophia did it for me that it's just great. Couldn't ask for anything better," he said.
His wife Sophia sponsored his banner and you can honor your loved ones too, by sponsoring a future banner.
"It's just another way to show them how much we truly, truly want to say thank you for your service and welcome home," said Sophia Scherman.
Lee Scherman said it may seem small, but to him and his fellow marines, it's everything.
"Once a Marine, always a Marine and that rings so true to me," he said.
If the veteran you'd like to honor is from Elkgrove, you can sponsor banner to be placed for one year. Once the year has ended, the veteran will be given the banner to make room to honor other veterans.
A banner costs $150 and that money goes towards installation and costs to make them.
The city of Elk Grove is encouraging businesses to purchase the banners, to help be a part of honoring the veterans of Elk Grove.