WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Select Board Monday voted, 4-1, to allow the Hometown Heroes banners program, joining several other communities around North Berkshire.

 

The vote finalized a conversation that began at the board’s Sept. 14 meeting.

 

As happened two weeks ago, several residents spoke from the floor of the meeting to raise concerns that the banners send the wrong message by glorifying the military and promoting military service to young members of the community.

 

Unlike two weeks ago, however, more people turned out Monday to urge the board to accept the plan to hang the Hometown Hero banners on utility poles around town between Memorial Day and Veterans Day starting in the spring of 2027.

 

One of those supporting the banners was the former chair of the Berkshire Democratic Brigades, who told the board that the banners are one small way communities like Williamstown can help make up for a “blemish” on the nation.

 

Sherwood Guernsey reminded the board members that the thousands of men and women who made the sacrifice to serve in the Vietnam War were not, by and large, honored for their service in their own time.

 

“When soldiers came back after incredibly difficult conditions … what happened in this country?” he asked. “I remember so well that it was extremely quiet when they came back, to say the least. There weren’t any crowds supporting them. There weren’t any parades saying, ‘Yes, you fought for this country.’ Whether I believed in that war or not, and I did disagree with that war.