Charleston community members honor veterans through banner reveal event

CHARLESTON, Mo. (KBSI) – In the small town of Charleston, community members came together for the unveiling of Veteran’s banners.

Each banner with the face and name of a local veteran. Organizers say these banners are more than just a decoration, but a reminder that those who serve our country are more than just a part of history, but a part of the community. 

Mike Muller is the Director of Day 3 Seeds and an organizer of the banner inaugural event held in Charleston November 11, 2025.

Muller shares that anywhere from 36-80 banners will be hung with the face and name of a veteran from Charleston starting in January 2026.

Families can send in a photo and information for each banner and banners will be rotated and hung for 5 months at a time. 

“We had an inaugural event of our banners, veterans to remember. In Charleston, we have a very large number of veterans from the previous wars” says Muller.

US Marine Corps Veteran Clarence Zellars, is one of those veterans.

“I’m 100% disabled veteran from the injuries that I received and there are a lot like me, but there are 53,000 that should never be forgotten. That never came home. I was lucky” says Zellars.

Zellars shares that today holds big meaning for him as a veteran saying his time in the Marine’s helped build him into the man he is today. Zellars shares that these banners showcasing veteran heroes should serve as a reminder of sacrifices made.

“I think that what we’re doing is very special. So, that no one ever forgets that freedom was not always this free” says Zellars.

Zellars saying Veterans’ Day should serve as a day of remembrance not only for families and friends and veterans but for the next generation to understand what generations before them had to sacrifice for current freedoms.

“Being a Vietnam vet and my generation is now passing, just like the World War II vets has and sooner or later, the Desert Storm, the same. I’ll be glad to see a day, when we don’t have the number of wars that have passed and the number of veterans we have lost” says Zellars.

Muller saying the banners stand as a symbol lest no one forget.

“The stories of what the veterans have done are being lost as they pass away, and the next generation needs to realize where their freedom has come from and it’s from men and women like these that have worked so hard, to give to their country” says Muller.

The banner reveal and Veterans Day celebration took place at 303 South Sixth Street in Charleston, and a lunch was served after the reveal.

Names were also drawn for the next round of banners. Banners will be hung along Main Street in Charleston.