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A banner celebration: Banners go up on Main Street to honor Galena High School graduates

From left, Julie Simmons, Kim Miller and Carole Shutts added sandbags to the banners on Thursday afternoon to weight the plastic down.

Hillary Dickerson and contributed photos

Jason Bingham and Jim Rigdon check to make sure the banner is straight.

Hillary Dickerson and contributed photos

City of Galena Public Works crew members hung banners to honor the Galena High School Class of 2020 on Main Street and Green Street on Friday morning, May 15. Jason Bingham is on the ladder and Jim Rigdon on the truck.

Hillary Dickerson and contributed photos

Posted Monday, May 18, 2020 4:23 pm

GALENA–Banners celebrating the Galena High School Class of 2020 are on display on Main and Green streets in Galena.

Last Friday, May 15, the Galena public works crew hung the banners, each featuring a picture of a graduate, a way to acknowledge the accomplishments of seniors whose graduation is postponed due to the pandemic.

Julie Simmons, a parent of a senior, spearheaded the project, garnering approval for the project from the Galena City Council. In addition city, banners are made possible thanks to the Galena School District, Principal Beth Murphy and high school staff, Ian Harris and Signcraft Screenprint and others who donated to the cause.

Stan Simmons helped with measurements to make sure the banners would hang properly from the light posts. Julie, along with Kim Miller, another senior parent, and Carole Shutts filled small sand bags Thursday afternoon so the banners would be weighted down.