By Danny Federico: Riverbend News
Cities and towns all over the nation are finding new ways to honor their veterans this Wednesday, Nov. 11, because of the coronavirus pandemic. The small town of Branford, however, already has a beautiful tradition that has been in place for years. Project Honor, organized by the Branford Area Inter Church Ministries, is a special project dedicated to veterans that occurs twice a year.
Project Honor places white crosses along the main roads in Branford. Visible along US-27, Suwannee Avenue and Plant Avenue, these crosses display the names of veterans, along with which war or branch of the military they were in. To top it off, each cross holds its own American flag, which can be seen billowing in the wind.
The crosses are put up every Memorial Day and Veterans Day and they stay up for two weeks. There are crosses for people from different areas, too, like Mayo and Fort White, not just for those in the Branford area. These crosses are for those who are still alive and also for those who have passed. A black band can be seen wrapped around the top of the crosses that are put up for those who have passed.
Each cross has an initial fee of $60, which covers the cross, the flag and the pole. Each year afterwards requires a maintenance fee of $15.
Branford Area Inter Church Ministries is a group that hosts many of the events that go on in the Branford area, such as the community
Thanksgiving dinner and the Keeping Christ in Christmas Parade. They meet on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m., and their next meeting will take place at the Branford Church of God, located at 304 US-27 in Branford. For more information on Project Honor or how to get involved with the Branford Area Inter Church Ministries, please contact Marsha Ward at (386) 208-6187.