August 2014 People Andy Durkee

Next time you’re in Rohnert Park, look up at the streetlights. If you’re lucky, you’ll be near one of the many military service banners that have been installed since 2012 honoring active duty military personnel with a connection to the city. The program was started by Andy Durkee, a retired Coast Guard captain, after he saw similar banners in several Southern California communities.

Outgoing and likeable, with a “Why not?” mindset, Durkee approached the city’s Parks and Rec department with his vision, asking for minimal help (financial or physical), and was quickly off and running. “The city’s been very easy to work with,” says Durkee. “And I’m very grateful for the locations it’s given us. Our first banners went up in the library parking lot and the next on Rohnert Park Expressway—high traffic areas that get a lot of visibility.”

To be included, service members need only fill out an application; criteria include a connection to the city, such as residence, immediate family members or school attendance. The banners have proved to be so popular that other local communities have begun (or are in the process of initiating) similar programs, including Windsor, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Petaluma. “As it continues to grow, we could potentially develop a Redwood Empire program to include smaller cities and unincorporated areas,” says Durkee.

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