Newburgh councilman seeks approval for Hometown Heroes banner program

Newburgh could soon add a visible tribute to veterans on its streets if Councilman Rob McLymore wins approval for a Hometown Heroes banner program. The idea would put the names and service of local men and women in public view, turning utility poles and downtown corridors into a reminder of military sacrifice in a city of 28,181 residents that the Census Bureau estimates includes 778 veterans.

McLymore is asking the Newburgh City Council to adopt the program, which would recognize people who served in the U.S. armed forces, including deceased veterans. The proposal is still in front of the council, so city leaders would need to settle the basics before any banners go up: who qualifies, who pays, where the banners hang and how they are maintained. Supporters say the payoff is not just ceremonial. They see the banners as a way to give Newburgh more quality of life and a stronger sense of character by making honor part of the everyday streetscape.

The model is already familiar in the Hudson Valley. In New Windsor, the town launched its Heroes Banner Program in 2024. The town charges $250 for a 24-inch by 48-inch full-color, double-sided banner, mounting hardware, installation and one year of display. Banners there are installed and taken down quarterly, are limited in number, and can be funded by the nominee, family, business or another sponsor. Applicants must show proof of service, such as a DD214 or military ID.

Hyde Park has its own Hometown Heroes Banner Program, started by the town and its Veterans Committee. That program was also reported at $250 per banner, with the first banners planned for KIA, MIA and POW honorees. Other regional examples show the idea can scale. Mohawk Valley Hometown Heroes says its banners are 30 inches by 60 inches and are displayed for three years, with 22 municipalities taking part. The broader program materials recommend working closely with local American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, and one Kingston example described a first wave of 310 participants.

For Newburgh, the question is not whether the concept exists, but whether the city wants to make public memory more permanent and more personal. With veterans already part of the city’s demographic fabric, McLymore’s proposal would give families, friends and local organizations a way to place that service where everyone can see it. If the council approves it, Newburgh would join a growing list of Hudson Valley communities that use banners to mark military service as part of the public landscape.