Veterans’ banner project in Deer Isle hits snag
see original on Penobscot Bay Press
*Published 2026-04-16
by Jack Beaudoin
DEER ISLE—A project to fly banners honoring Island veterans hit an unexpected— and temporary—snag when Versant Power declined a request to hang them from the utility’s poles in Deer Isle.
“Back on March 19, I submitted an application to Versant in order to get the banners on their poles,” Steve Whitney reported in his update to Deer Isle select board members at their April 9 meeting. “But between now and then, they’ve changed their policy. Civic organizations no longer qualify.”
The good news, said Whitney, representing the American Legion Rodney Stinson Post 102, is that the municipality in which the poles are located can still seek and receive permission from Versant to hang the banners. Board Chairman Ronald Eaton, whose father was a veteran, said the town would certainly step in to help. His colleague Patty Oliver agreed, and the board voted 2-0 (Peter Perez absent) to authorize Town Manager Jim Fisher to complete the application.
America 250 tie-in
The post launched the “Honoring Our Veterans” project late in 2025 to coincide with this year’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, dating back to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Family members or friends can sponsor a banner for $175 (covering the expense of its manufacture), displaying the veteran’s name, a photo, service branch, rank, and date of service. The banners, approximately two feet by four feet, will be printed double-sided with UV protection and be on display from Memorial Day to Veterans Day.
Whitney, a veteran who served in the New Jersey National Guard during the Vietnam Conflict, said he is anticipating between 20 and 25 sponsored banners this year. So far, he’s received six confirmations and 10 inquiries. He said it’s likely that once the initial banners are raised, interest in the project will grow.
“Five towns in the Boothbay area started with about 100 banners in the first year,” Whitney said. “Now they are up to 600 banners.”
He told the board that the banners are a common sight in other communities. Describing a trip he took to Lake Placid, N.Y., via western Maine, he said, “It seemed like every town had those banners up.” In Deer Isle, the banners are likely to be affixed to poles on Bridge Street, from Route 15 to Sunset Road— although some poles can’t be used in the village area—and on Route 15 between Quaco Road and the town office.
“We will put them wherever you tell us to,” Whitney said.
Spring cleaning
In other business at the meeting, Fisher updated the board and members of the public about the annual roadside cleanup project taking place April 24-26.
That was good news to resident Kay Haran. “I’m impressed by how much it piles up,” she said of the debris that collects on the road shoulders. “I usually cover (Route 15) from Reach Road to the causeway.”
Eaton recalled collecting more than 500 Styrofoam cups on a short stretch of road one year. “It’s like it came off the back of a truck,” he said.
Information about the clean-up effort can be found on the town’s website, deerislemaine.gov/environment. The site also contains a map of colored road segments indicating that they have been “adopted” by local residents, businesses, or organizations. Fisher urged anyone interested in adopting a segment to reach out to him at [email protected]. Participants can pick up trash bags at Island Heritage Trust or Deer Isle and Stonington town halls. Trash bags can be left on the side of Routes 15 or 15A for collection, or volunteers can dispose of them at their respective transfer stations.
Publication Data
title: Veterans’ banner project in Deer Isle hits snag
date: 2026-04-16T14:09:35-04:00
outlet: Penobscot Bay Press
words: 686