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SCHENECTADY — Schenectady veterans will be honored this spring with colorful flags paying tribute to their service hanging on flagpoles downtown as part of the Hometown Heroes Banner Program.
The ninth annual program runs from late May until mid-November, with each banner honoring a specific Schenectady service member and will include his or her name, branch of service and photo.
The initiative is a partnership between the city and the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. (DSIC), with the limited number of banners available for $300 for individuals and businesses to sponsor their chosen veteran.
“I can honestly say this is one of the most appreciated and emotional programs that we do every year,” DSIC Director James Salengo said last week. “The families that we get to know and the family histories about the honorees, they’re so appreciative of such an important way to honor the loved ones in their lives. It’s really an honor for us to be able to offer this to local families and really celebrate what these men and women have done for our community and the country overall.”
Residents that sponsor a banner will see the flag displayed for two consecutive years, assuming the 63” x 18” double-sided digital custom vinyl banner weathers well.
“That actually adds to the overall presence of the banners in downtown,” Salengo said.
In order for an honoree to qualify for a banner, they must have been born and raised in Schenectady County and graduated from one of the county’s five school districts. The program is open to honorees living and deceased who are military veterans or active service members who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or reserves.
The banners will be displayed in downtown Schenectady for six months starting in May, with the banners stored at the DSIC office on State Street in the winter before they are hung for a second year.
“We focus each year on target areas like the length of State Street [downtown], because Veterans Park is on State around City Hall,” Salengo said of the banner program. “It fluctuates a little year to year, but we always have a great response and we always have a nice number of banners.”
Banner sponsorship payments are due by Wednesday, with those interested in honoring a veteran urged to contact Gail White at [email protected] or (518) 377-9430.
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