UTICA — Due to overwhelming public demand, Utica’s Hometown Heroes Banner Program will expand to include the newly-renovated Oriskany Boulevard corridor, Mayor Robert Palmieri said in a Monday press conference.

The expansion is made, Palmieri said, because of a $5,000 commitment from the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.

The Hometown Heroes Banner Program began last year and was spearheaded by the Oneida Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 490 and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 490.

The program seeks to honor veterans, living or deceased, by placing banners on select utility poles in the community.

“We can never do enough to honor veterans. The City of Utica is proud to join forces with local businesses and organizations to honor those who have sacrificed to protect everything we hold dear,” Palmieri said. “I’m proud the program has been well received and I’m excited that this expansion is going to allow us to honor more veterans.”

According to city officials, the community response to the program, which honors veterans from all of the nation’s military branches, initially placed banners along the Parkway and adjoining streets, was much greater than anticipated, as there were more requests than could be filled in 2022. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis with preference being given to veterans from Utica. There is a limited number of poles the banners can be placed on and each banner costs $150. The donation from NYSCOBA will cover all of the fixtures and hardware needed to hang the banners.

To have a banner made in honor of a veteran, people should complete an online submission form, which can be found at www.uticahometownheroes.com. Individuals can submit the form, upload the picture and make a payment on the website.

The initiative has traditionally received invaluable support from Professional Media Services, the Utica Comets and Harley Davidson of Utica. The banners are displayed throughout the city just before Memorial Day and remain until after Veteran’s Day.

“As a veteran and vice president of NYSCOBA that has thousands of proud veterans within our organization, NYSCOBA is honored to partner with Utica and DAR to help expand this amazing opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices of our Armed Forces heroes,” said John Harmon, of NYSCOBA.