PINE PLAINS — Seeking a meaningful way to honor its local heroes, the town of Pine Plains is asking families and organizations to sponsor banners in honor of those who have served or are currently serving their country as part of its Hometown Heroes program.
Working in conjunction with the American Legion Post 426 and the Pine Plains Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 5519, Alice Hanback-Nuccio, secretary to town Supervisor Darrah Cloud, said the program was instituted to honor those who served their country through the military. Anyone who resided in town during their military service is eligible for the program.
Along with completing an application, sponsors must provide a photo of the hero in his or her military uniform as well aas a copy of his or her discharge papers, also known as a DD-214 form.
The cost is $200 per banner; they will be hung from town utility poles from May to November.
“I think everyone in town is incredibly proud of those who have dedicated their lives to service,” Hanback-Nuccio said. “At this time more than ever, we should be grateful.”
“I think it’s wonderful,” American Legion Post 426 Cmdr. Marie Stewart agreed. “I think we will have a very good response — we have a ton of veterans and veteran families in the area, so I think it will be very well-received once the word is out there.”
The Town Hall is closed due to the coronavirus. Hometown Heroes applications are available at www.pineplains-ny.gov and can be mailed to the Town Hall, P.O. Box 955, Pine Plains, NY, 12567. For details, call 518-398-8600, ext. 1.
