In Time For Memorial Day, 'Hometown Heroes' Banner Program Kicks Off

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Just in time for Memorial Day, Southampton Town has found a new and touching way to honor the local heroes who have dedicated their lives to protecting the nation's freedoms.

This week, Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara unveiled the "Hometown Heroes" banner program. The initiative, spearheaded by McNamara and Westhampton Beach's VFW Post 5350, aims to recognize and honor local military men and women by displaying personalized banners with their picture and military service information in Good Ground Park in Hampton Bays, McNamara said.

And not only that, QR codes can be scanned to read the biographies of all those honored.

"As the daughter and granddaughter of veterans, this program means a lot to me,” said McNamara, liaison to the town's veterans affairs committee. "A great majority of the men being honored here continue to serve our community for many years after their military service has ended."

Due to his service to the community, and especially veterans, William M. Hughes Jr. was named the first honoree, she said.

Hughes, commander of VWF Post 5350 in Westhampton Beach, collaborated on the project with McNamara but had no idea in advance that he was being honored.

"I don’t know where you got all of that information," he said, referring to his biography. "What an outstanding job done by everyone involved. It’s a great program, in a great location. The idea to scan the QR code to read the bios of all of the veterans — what a wonderful idea."

McNamara said she conceived of the idea of adding biographies to the program after serving as a guardian on an Honor Flight last year and hearing the stories of the veterans on that flight. At either end of the park, there is a QR code that links to a webpage containing a biography of each of the honorees.

The program will run from Memorial Day through Veterans Day at Good Ground Park in Hampton Bays.