Example of Banners from the 2025 Long Beach Veterans Banner Program

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does “the Veteran nominee must have served honorably” mean?

  Serving honorably refers to completing military service and receiving an “honorable discharge” or being discharged under “honorable conditions.”  

• What does “the Veteran nominee must have a connection to Long Beach” mean?

  The Veteran nominee must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Born or raised in Long Beach.

  • Currently working or previously worked in Long Beach.

  • Currently residing or previously resided in Long Beach.

  • Educated in Long Beach. 

  • Formerly stationed or worked at the Long Beach Naval Station or Shipyard, the Long Beach Naval Hospital, or the Long Beach Armory.
    
    The former Long Beach Naval Complex, which closed for good in 1997, comprised the Long Beach Naval Station and the adjacent Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The Long Beach Naval Hospital on Carson at the 605 (now the Long Beach Towne Center site), closed in 1994. The Long Beach Armory on 7th Street was a California Army National Guard facility built in 1930 and decommissioned in 2018.

• Is there a charge for participation?

  No. The City of Long Beach has provided one-time increase in funding, approved as part of the City's Adopted Fiscal year 2026 Budget to support the expanded outreach and education efforts by the Long Beach Veterans Commission.

• How many banners are there? Where will they be displayed and for how long?

  Up to 65 banners may be installed for the 2026 Veterans Banner Program. The precise locations throughout the City of Long Beach will be determined based on availability. The banners will be displayed for one year, starting in the summer of 2025.

• Who may nominate a Veteran for the Long Beach Veterans Banner Program?

  If you are a Veteran, you may nominate yourself. Alternatively, family or friends may nominate a Veteran, living or deceased.

• What information must I provide as part of the Nomination Form?

  Whether you are nominating yourself or another Veteran, you will be asked to:

  • Identify clearly which of the above eligibility criteria the Veteran nominee meets.

  • Provide information about the Veteran nominee’s military service, military service achievements, and local community involvement is also required.

  • Describe any connections the Veteran nominee may have to Long Beach, such as involvement with local civic, community-based or veterans’ organizations, or other community involvement.

  • Provide the Veteran nominee’s bio, which will be posted on the City’s website.

  • Verify that the information submitted about the Veteran nominee is true and accurate.

  • Email a photo separately to veterans@longbeach.gov, if available, by May 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Submission of a photo is not required by the application deadline. Submitted photos must meet specific criteria. See “What Are The Specifications For Submitting A Photo For The Veterans Banner Program?” Alternatively, a photo may be submitted upon the City’s request, only if the Veteran nominee is selected for the Veterans Banner Program.

• What are the specifications for submitting a photo for the Veterans Banner Program?

  
  
  Please see the example of a suitable photo of a Veteran Nominee. The photo should be a one-quarter headshot (from mid-to-upper chest to head). Photos should be emailed to veterans@longbeach.gov
  
  Photo subject specifications:

  • Photo may be black and white or color.

  • No weapons.

  • No combat photos

  • Uniform not required.

  
  Submission of a usable photo is an essential component of the Veterans Banners Program. A usable photo is a high-quality photo that can easily be enlarged for an 8-ft x 3-ft light pole banner. 
  
  

  High-quality photo specifications:

  1. High resolution digital photos are required. This means a JPG that is at least 3.5 megabytes (MB) or 300 dots per square inch (dpi).

  2. A photo of a photo is not usable. A high-resolution scan of an original photo must be submitted instead.

  3. No compressed files.

  4. No blurry or out of focus photos.

  5. No shadows.

  6. No full body poses.

  7. No busy backgrounds.Only the Veteran in the picture.

• How does the selection process work?

  All applications must be received by the application deadline: May 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

  The Long Beach Veterans Commission will review and evaluate the applications to ensure they meet eligibility criteria, and selected honorees will be notified by June 2026. During the review process, all applications will be anonymized to reduce selection bias.