The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Flags dedicated to military go up
WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. >> The first of the flags dedicated to those serving in the military went up in Wampsville Wednesday.
“We’re very excited the flags are finally up,” said Robin Redden, Flags of Honor committee member. “And now we’re hoping to start working with other towns around the Oneida District to get the banners up there as well.”
The Oneida City Flags of Honor Committee started work back in December with the goal of hanging banners throughout the city to honor those currently in active service to the military and local veterans.
The village of Wampsville and the Wampsville Fire Department put up the flags on Tuesday, Aug. 14. The flags cover North and South Court streets, along with part of Route 5 going towards Oneida.
Among those attending the installation of the flags was the family of Tucker Rodgers, Jessica Rodgers and James Cullen of Oneida.
They both heard about the Flags of Honor programthrough Facebook and felt it was the right thing to do to get involved and get a flag put up for Tucker.
“He’s in the Navy,” Jessica said. “He went to camp in De
cember and graduated in February.”
“He’s been in the Navy for about a year,” Cullen said. “His ship has been in drydock.”
Jessica and Cullen both agree the Flags of Honor programis something that needed to happen.
“It’s so everyone knows where they are and what they’re doing,” Cullen said of active service members.
“It’s a pride thing,” Jessica said. “It shows the sacrifice these kids are making.”
With the first round of flags up, the next step for the Flags of Honor is to reach local veterans.
“We are now open for veterans,” Redden said. “We have applications ready for anyone who has a veteran they’d like to get a banner for.”
Redden said that now the committee has the banners, their hope is that from now on, they will be hung from Memorial Day through the beginning of December.
The following people currently have a flag dedicated to them: Dominick R.W. Redden, Drew Grems, Nick Niles, Cory A. Reed, Steven J. Sgarlata, Dustin Dale Scribner, Justin Michael Curro, Thomas Eugene McNichol Jr., Cody James Peterson, Kyle P. George, Keagan CochranGarbry, Tucker Rodgers, Nicholas Edward Hopkins, Steven Curtis, Nicole Hill Green, Tyler Hill and Evan Michael Rich. All are active duty military and Oneida High School graduates.
For, more information, to apply for a banner, to make a donation, or just volunteer, contact the Oneida City Flags of Honor Committee at oneidacityfoh@ yahoo.com or visit their Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/Oneidaflags