Military Family and Support Group spearheaded a project of gratitude that can now be seen in Brownwood, billboards thanking veterans of recent wars for their service. The billboards read, “War Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan THANK YOU! Citizens of Brown County.”
The billboards went up this month, in time for National Military Appreciation Month.
Military Family and Support organizer Joyce Leidig gave thanks to those who helped make it possible and continue to support the military.
“Thank you to everyone for supporting our military and keeping them in your prayers,” said Leidig. “We want to thank everyone for who donated and helped to get this done.”
Her own son served, so she knows firsthand the struggles veterans of war and their families face daily.
“It brings back memories of our last hug from our son, daughter, husband, wife or other family members before they deployed and how it was so hard to let them go,” said Leidig. “It also brings back memories of the struggles they had on return. We have visited with so many military, veterans, their moms, dads, spouses and siblings and they also say how hard it is. We also remember our Vietnam veterans and how there were no welcome homes.”
The group offered a special thanks to Lamar Advertising for helping to make the project possible by offering discounted rates for artwork and hanging the signs on their vacant billboards.
Leidig stated that the VFW had thought about doing billboards to thank Iraq and Afghanistan veterans but ultimately felt it should be the community and not other veterans doing the thank you.
“Our war veterans have not been thanked in a public way for their service,” said Leidig. “A lot of us said when we started the group we didn’t want our sons, daughters, spouses and family members treated like Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home but it is happening to our veterans.”
The group was able to raise $1,600 which pays for two 14 x 48 ft signs and 1 larger sign. These signs will be displayed throughout Lamar’s region, which reaches from I-20 to San Angelo, on vacant billboards according to Leidig.