Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Hometown Hero Banners featuring 14 veterans and active duty personnel from the City of Warren hang along the 200 block of Liberty Street.

The images of 14 servicewomen and -men from the City of Warren are now hanging in places of honor in Warren.

The Blue Star Mothers of Kinzua held a ceremony honoring those veterans and their families, who purchased Hometown Heroes Banners, in June.

There were more than 50 people at that celebration, President Skyla Govier said.

“This program has been in the works for over a year,” Govier said. “The many communities, including our local town of Youngsville, inspired us to bring this program to the City of Warren.”

“We coordinated with the City of Warren… with Mike Holtz, Director of Public Works,” she said. “He answered any and all questions and helped to guide us in what would need to be done to fulfill this dream.”

In the end, the time and effort resulted in the honoring of 14 deserving veterans and active duty personnel.

“It was an honor to be able to help these veterans and their families to be able to hang these banners for them all to be recognized as Warren’s Hometown Heroes,” Govier said. “They made a choice to serve our country. They sacrifice so much for our country, Warren and all of our citizens.”

The banners are hung in the 200 block of Liberty Street.

The 14 Hometown Heroes are:

¯ Leota “Lee” Barret Jones;

¯ Bob Gates;

¯ James Newton;

¯ Patrick Connacher;

¯ Philip Dorn;

¯ Glen Culbertson;

¯ William Nordin;

¯ Sydney Card;

¯ Ernest Hoag;

¯ Joseph Bednez;

¯ Warren J. Hamm;

¯ Mark Bullock;

¯ Baylee Govier; and

¯ Bobby Govier.

“We hope these are the first of many banners that will be seen across the city,” Govier said. “Thank you to these first 14 men and women for their service.”