Syracuse Sun

Standing in front of a giant U.S. flag at City Hall, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh launched the Syracuse Hometown Heroes program on Wednesday, May 22. The initiative allows families and friends to sponsor banners featuring their veteran or active-duty loved ones to be posted on city streets. Banners can be ordered at SyracuseHometownHeroes.com until June 20.

In its inaugural year, the program will display 300 banners in two locations: James Street from near downtown extending to Eastwood and inside Kirk Park on the city’s south side. The banners will be hung by early August and remain up until Veterans Day. Future expansions are anticipated.

“Our veterans and people serving in the military have given so much to our nation. This is a way for Syracuse to show its appreciation for all they have sacrificed,” said Mayor Walsh. “The response to our plans to start a Syracuse Hometown Heroes program has been amazing. Don’t wait to order your banner.”

The cost is $160 per banner, which includes three years of posting. The fee covers banner printing, posting, and ongoing administration of the program. Orders can be submitted online or by mail to: Syracuse Hometown Heroes, c/o Syracuse Parks Conservancy, P.O. Box 11384, Syracuse, NY 13218. The first 300 orders will be accepted in the order they are received.

The City created Syracuse Hometown Heroes in partnership with the Syracuse Parks Conservancy, which is administering the program, and Dunbar American Legion Post 1642 in Syracuse. The program is sponsored by the Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF).

“The Syracuse Parks Conservancy is honored to be a part of this tribute to veterans and people actively serving the U.S. Armed Forces in our community,” said Kevin McClelland, president of the Syracuse Parks Conservancy. “Kirk Park is an ideal place to showcase the brave and selfless people of Syracuse who serve our nation.”

“Our families and friends take immense pride in our service to this nation,” said Herb Dunmore, Commander of Dunbar American Legion Post 1642 – one of the oldest Black American Legion Posts in the United States. “I urge people from across the community to take advantage of the program so that we may show how proud we are of the diversity within our veteran community in this city.”

“Syracuse University is pleased to be part of this important initiative to honor those in our community who have served our nation in uniform,” said Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation at Syracuse University and executive director of IVMF. “Our university has a long history of supporting veterans and military families in Syracuse and we look forward to building on that legacy through the Hometown Heroes program.”

IVMF also operates SyracuseServes, a coordinated care network ensuring that military-connected individuals can access necessary resources efficiently. Located at the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) at Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building as part of IVMF’s programs, it has helped over 500 people since its launch in 2022.

The Oneida County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution assisted with creating Syracuse Hometown Heroes.