by Kay Ogden (former selectman Larry Ogden’s better half!) with contributions from Doug Dawes (Commander Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post #211) and Jon Pingree (Georgetown Kiwanis)
GEORGETOWN – As Veterans Day approaches, we extend our appreciation to all service members for their contributions to the country and communities.
Our friend, Jon Pingree was jogging in a small town in Maine, and noticed all the banners of veterans, up on their utility poles. Jon decided this was a great idea, and partnered, and spearheaded, with the Kiwanis organization in Georgetown. He brought the idea forward, the Kiwanis is a charitable organization which performs various services for the town: a Senior Thanksgiving Dinner, they donate to food pantries, tree lighting at Christmas, Wreaths Across America, and many more.
This program is called Hometown Heroes. The program displays 24″ x 36″ banners on utility poles from May 1 through the end of November and spotlights local veterans with a link to Georgetown.
Banners are produced in minimum batches of five and cost $195 each but there are provisions for financial assistance (see below). The program currently plans to continue through May 2026; organizers advise confirming availability and deadlines when ordering. For information or to request a banner, contact Jon Pingree at this email address, greaterbostonautoware.net. You will need to provide the veteran’s name, years of service, rank, and the branch of the military the veteran served.
Thanks to groups providing financial support, the criteria for a free banner are as follows: you work for the town, or have a relative who was killed in action, or you have a financial hardship.
The program is for people that are alive or who have passed. To qualify, they need to have some connection to Georgetown – either they grew up here or have a family member that lives here, etc. The criteria are pretty liberal.
In addition to all the work and funding by the Kiwanis, there were many people who have helped this program:
Dave Schofield, now retired general manager of Georgetown Electric Light, initiated the effort with 46 banners.
Frank Harper arranged thousands in donated funds from the Georgetown VFW Post No. 7608 to the Kiwanis which donated $3,000 to get the program launched
Awesome Georgetown (a local philanthropic organization*) donated $1,500 to the cause.
Nick Lawler of Georgetown, who worked with Scott Edwards to provide a donation of banner-mounting brackets.
Mark Perry, also from the Kiwanis, and Georgetown Municipal Light Dept., was also heavily involved with making the hometown heroes banner program come to fruition.
Selectman Doug Dawes gave Jon Pingree and the Kiwanis 10 free names from the vets/VFW to be made into banners.
Mary Snow, the new general manager of the Georgetown Municipal Light Department, will coordinate banner installation and removal each season.
We highly respect all our service members, we salute, and recognize them and their families, who have proudly served our country and communities around the world from the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Marines, Merchant Marines, Navy, Space Force and all who have served.
Join the American Legion
The Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post #211 is looking for new members to join, they would appreciate your help, you may join by contacting Doug Dawes at 978.270.3037 or dougdawes@gmail.com.
Shout-Out to
Awesome Georgetown
*Awesome Georgetown, a group of people that donate their own money for our “pearl of a town” (a quote from deceased Atty. Fred True who lived on Elm Street, in our town). This is a group that donates their own money once per month to a program that needs financial support. Anyone can win money at Awesome Georgetown. They usually have three applicants applying for grant money, which is normally $1,000. All applicants present their projects, and the trustees pick, which one they think will make Georgetown more awesome. If you don’t win, you automatically go back into the queue for the next month. The Awesome group members, then choose who they think is the best candidate for their needs. ♦
