Hometown Hero Banner Program Expands Across Northern Berkshire Municipalities

Staff Reports 10:35AM / Monday, August 17, 2026Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Veterans' Services Office has announced the opening of the Hometown Hero Banner Program across multiple area municipalities, offering local communities an opportunity to publicly honor military service members and veterans.

The regional initiative includes participation from Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Lanesborough, North Adams, Savoy, and Williamstown.

Designed to commemorate all active-duty service members, as well as living, discharged, and deceased veterans, the program installs personalized banners featuring photos and details of local heroes on municipal telephone poles and streetlights.

Community Banner Details

Adams: Expanding its existing Park Street tribute—which previously honored only those killed in action—to include all active, living, and deceased veterans.

North Adams: Rolling out a second wave of banners across the city following strong community participation during the initial launch.

Lanesborough: Program operations are being managed directly through Town Clerk Ruth Knysh (413-442-1351).

Clarksburg, Cheshire, & Williamstown: Currently accepting applications while finalizing banner placement locations based on total participation.

Florida & Savoy: Applications are open, though final town approvals remain pending ahead of upcoming Town Meetings (Florida's vote is slated for Aug. 26).

Costs and Application Process

Banners are expected to cost between $125 and $150, varying slightly by municipality and banner size.

According to organizers, the fee covers initial production, ongoing maintenance, and replacement banners. A portion of the proceeds will also fund a hardship assistance program to ensure financial constraints do not prevent veterans from being recognized. Organizers noted that a minimal renewal fee may be instituted in the future to maintain the banners long-term.

Residents interested in sponsoring a banner for a family member or local veteran can contact the Northern Berkshire Veterans' Services Office at 413-662-3040 for application details and requirements.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Now's the time...

to harvest value from your home. Click for more details about a HELOC. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Veteran Spotlight: Coast Guard Capt. Thurman 'Tom' Maine

By Wayne SoaresSpecial to iBerkshires
04:42PM / Sunday, September 13, 2026

MASHPEE, Mass. — If I were to describe the best attributes of this week's veteran, they would be an infectious personality, role model, leader, wonderful family man and a person that leads by example in the very best way.

The aforementioned, are the primary reasons why Thurman "Tom" Maine enjoyed a successful and distinguished military career in the Coast Guard from 1983 to 2014.

Born in North Stonington, Conn., Maine entered the Coast Guard at the age of 21 and was sent to boot camp in Cape May, N.J. His first assignment was at Coast Guard Station in Provincetown, R.I. From 1994 to 1997, he was a helicopter pilot for Coast Guard Air Station at Otis Air National Guard Base and was elevated to operations officer, chief pilot at the base from 2004 to 2007.

During his 31-year career, Maine flew some of the Coast Guard's most elite helicopters; the Sikorsky H-3 (the Coast Guard's last amphibious aircraft), the Sikorsky H-60 (the most widely flown military helicopter in the world) and the H-65 (a smaller, faster helicopter that deploys on ships).

Maine continued to rapidly climb the ranks and in 2009 was promoted as the Coast Guard's liason to the Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, a position he held until 2011. Following that assignment, he was promoted to captain and rose to be the commanding officer at the Coast Guard's prestigious Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala.

During his tenure as commanding officer, he suffered a devastating blow when four Guardsman were killed during a night training exercise. He conveyed that his greatest achievement in his entire military career, was the leadership he provided

to his 600-member unit and the families of the fallen Guardsmen, by always being accessible, communicating constantly and holding vitally important family nights.

He said this tragedy, "gave him the ultimate opportunity to live out his faith." He also lobbied intensely for the student pilot who was killed to be awarded his designation posthumously, which he did.

View Full Story