Suffolk 'Hometown Heroes' Banners To Honor Military Members

DEER PARK, NY — "Hometown Heroes" banners will hang on light posts in North Babylon and Lindenhurst, and possibly Copiague and Deer Park, to honor those who served or are currently serving in the military.

Carolyn Mormino and Jeanine Walther, both members of Blue Star Mothers of America, both have sons enlisted in the U.S. Navy and were inspired by a banner campaign in Pennsylvania. The North Babylon mothers spearheaded a grassroots campaign to do something similar on Long Island, enlisting the support of Rich Shaffer, the town supervisor. They eventually partnered with local Kiwanis groups, who volunteered to collect information about the service members who will be featured. Using the Kiwanis chapters also allows the campaign to function as a fundraiser, Greg Bravo, president of the Deer Park-North Babylon Kiwanis Club, told Patch.

The campaign needed a nonprofit to get involved, he said.

"We decided to make it a Kiwanis project," Bravo said. "We thought it was something good for the community."

The Kiwanis group plans to hang 76 banners on 38 poles on Deer Park Avenue near Marion G. Vedder Elementary School in North Babylon. Town workers will help hang and remove the banners, Schaffer said, which will remain up from spring until October, when they come down for winter. If the campaign expands, banners could appear in Deer Park as well.

Lindenhurst is also involved. Ralph Somma, former president of the Lindenhurst Kiwanis Club and committee chair on the project, told Patch they hope to hang about 200 banners. Copiague is another hamlet that has expressed interested in joining the campaign.

Bravo, a veteran of both the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army, said the effort is a lot of work, as volunteers have to make sure the living and dead honorees were honorably discharged. They also have to fact-check the details. The service members honored can be from the area or have familial connections to Babylon, he said.

Those wanting to buy one of the 5-foot banners can pay $200 to cover costs, which Bravo estimated at about $150 per banner. The remaining money supports the Kiwanis Club's charitable donations, focusing on children, community and veterans charities. Each banner will run for two seasons before being given to the family who sponsored it. Bravo said they are aiming to have the banners ready for April but it may take a bit longer to get them up and running.

Those interested in finding out more information or ordering a banner can visit the Lindenhurst Kiwanis Club's website for the campaign or email alliancegroups@aol.com for Deer Park-North Babylon residents.