'Hometown Heroes': A tribute to Island's vets

Article and Photos by Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Writer

Grand Island’s “Hometown Heroes” military banner program is drawing praise and pride in its first year.

“I’ve heard nothing but positive” comments, said Mark Manthei of the Grand Island American Legion Post 1346. He said there was “a lot of positive chatter on Facebook” when the program was announced.

“People were very impressed,” said Gary Roesch of Grand Island Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9249.

The two men spearheaded the project to bring the banners honoring veterans to the Island. Their respective organizations were 100% behind the project, both men said.

The banners salute “our brave men and women who are currently serving and those who have honorably served in the military,” as stated in the program’s brochure.

The banner project was initiated by the Grand Island American Legion and VFW, in partnership with the town.

Eighteen banners have been on display since Memorial Day along Whitehaven Road, from Trinity Church, extending just past Grand Island Boulevard. The servicemen so honored are Grand Island soldiers who were killed in action in foreign wars, and they are also commemorated at the DeGlopper Memorial. Steel pedestals with their photos and biographies are a testament to their bravery and dedication.

The markers are in a semicircle near the memorial and statue of DeGlopper, Grand Island’s Medal of Honor recipient. DeGlopper was honored posthumously for his valor during World War II, when he died saving his fellow soldiers on June 9, 1944, in France during the Normandy Campaign. He is also the subject of a documentary film, produced and directed by Island native Jerry Cahill, that is now part of the school curriculum in Grand Island schools

The “Hometown Heroes” banners pay tribute to the same soldiers honored at the DeGlopper Memorial. Roesch credited the DeGlopper Memorial committee for its hard work in establishing the park.

“That really gave us a good jump start,” he said.

The two veterans organizations provided the guidance and the seed money to get the military banner project going in less than a year’s time. Roesch and Manthei first heard about the program in 2020, during the COVID pandemic. They had difficulty tracking down the original veterans who told them about “Hometown Heroes.”

Then, the idea resurfaced for them when other towns began flying the banners in their hometowns. The first Grand Island committee meeting for “Hometown Heroes” was held Dec. 6, 2024, and included Roesch and Manthei; Supervisor Peter Marston and his administrative assistant, Rhonda Diehl; and Highway Superintendent Dick Crawford.

On April 21, the Town Board issued a proclamation to adopt the “Hometown Heroes” program for the Town of Grand Island, to be administered and managed by the VFW and American Legion, and to be facilitated by the town. The banners went up May 26.

“We took it upon both (veterans) organizations to say, ‘You know what? We’ll pay for this initial round. This will generate the interest; people will see it, and from this point forward, it will be up to family members or individuals’ ” to support the program, Manthei said.

“The cooperation with Town Board and the Parks Department – we could not have done this without them,” Roesch said.

“They were tremendous,” Manthei added.

The Parks Department is responsible for hanging and taking down the banners, Manthei explained.

There currently are a dozen new applications for the 30-inch-by-60-inch military banners for the 2026 season. There is capacity along the Whitehaven corridor for 25 banners with brackets and mounting hardware.

The next group of banners will have somewhat smaller photos of the “Hometown Heroes,” to allow for a lengthier description of the veterans’ biographies. Photos should be submitted electronically. A clear photo of the honoree in uniform is preferred. The top medals achieved by the soldiers are also displayed on the banners.

 The deadline is Jan. 1 to submit applications for banners to be prepared for the upcoming season. Each banner will continue to be displayed for two years, as long as it’s still in good condition. Once removed, it will be turned over to the sponsor. The one-time cost to join the program is $200.

Send requests for an application or any questions to ginyherobanners@gmail.com or call 716-773-6343.