The Mathews Rotary Club, in partnership with Chesapeake Bank, is once again celebrating local heroes with a visual display of 200 or more of American flags flying from 10-foot masts in an open lot along Main Street.

Flags will be displayed from June 12 through July 6, including Flag Day (June 14) and July 4.

Since Memorial Day is so close to Flag Day and July 4, this year’s “Flags for Heroes” program will include a special tribute to veterans; any flags ordered before May 28 for a veteran will be flown starting on Memorial Day weekend and remain flying through July 6. These flags will have a ribbon attached to denote that flag as a veteran hero.

Anyone can recognize their hero in the display. Each flag will have a medallion that states the names of the hero and the sponsor. The medallion will be the sponsor’s to keep after the event has ended. The names of hero es and their sponsors will be published in the Gazette-Journal.

Mathews Rotary Club has made being a sponsor a “touchless” event. Visit mathewsrotaryclub.org and enter hero name(s) and donate through the secure online app. Four levels of sponsorships are available and can be viewed on the website, starting at $50.

Sponsors may also stop by the display on Main Street (next to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District station, next to Moughons) or stop at the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center to pick up a registration form that can be mailed in.

This same event last year had 170 flags flying and was a complete sellout.

A hero can be a health care worker, food supplier, volunteer, military veteran, active-duty military, first responder, policeman, fireman, EMT, teacher, mentor, caregiver, family member, friend, spouse, parent or “anyone who has had an impact on your life or the community,” a release stated.

Net proceeds will be used to support Mathews community needs. One item of focus this year is reducing hunger in Mathews County.