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Mohawk Valley Hometown Hero banner program grows: ‘We’ve got to remember all these people’<\/h1>\n
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Mischael McKenna and her husband were making their way through Vermont a few years ago when they came upon a community lined with telephone poles from which hung banners saluting the area’s veterans.<\/p>\n

McKenna, a member of the Oneida Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, said her husband suggested she propose a similar program for Oneida County.<\/p>\n

The Mohawk Valley Hometown Heroes banner program began in Utica in January 2022, when McKenna formed a committee with Trena DeFranco, regent of the Oneida Chapter of the DAR, Tom Buono of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 944 and Joe Fraccola of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 490.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just an idea last year,\u201d McKenna said Wednesday afternoon, speaking at a press conference hosted by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. to announce the program\u2019s expansion into four more municipalities in the county. \u201cWe were hoping to get 50 [banners]. We got 198.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, the program is expanding into Rome, New Hartford and Whitesboro.<\/p>\n

Utica announced its own expansion of the program separately on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great program that gives families and friends the opportunity to honor their loved ones,\u201d said Picente, who last year purchased a banner in honor of his father’s service in World War II.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many veterans that have served this community.”<\/p>\n

About the Hometown Hero banner program<\/h2>\n

Each banner features the name, military branch, rank and years of service\/war served, along with a photo of the veteran. The veteran honored can be living or deceased.<\/p>\n

The cost to purchase a banner is $150. Banners will be displayed from Memorial Day to Veterans Day for three years.\u00a0At the end of that time, the banner will be given to the person who purchased it.<\/p>\n