To the Editor:
Berne Supervisor Sean Lyons’s letter of 22 July [“Some people talk about supporting veterans; I actually do it”] states, “The Hometown Hero Project never was meant to solely honor sons and daughters of Berne but rather to include honoring those heroes who have made Berne their hometown: Hometown Heroes.”

Indeed, a political coincidence for Mr. [Deputy Supervisor Dennis] Palow.  

Hometown heroes who lived in Berne long before recent arrivals should be honored first, and separately, from new residents (my wife’s family included).  

Then he states, “Maybe 2022’s town budget could include funds to sponsor banners for passed veterans from years ago.” Maybe? Maybe never.

If Berne can spend about $5,000 dollars for a one-hour fireworks display, you can afford military service medals that last a lifetime for present and past veterans. Not banners that fade and are thrown away in the dump.  

While Mr. Lyons’s voluntary service for veterans projects is highly commendable, cleaning monuments in Washington, D.C. has me scratching my head.  

Woodlawn Cemetery has many veterans’ graves that need cleaning. As the saying goes, “Charity starts at home.” You may have to kneel to clean a headstone, but humble we should be to those who sacrificed for us.

Let the federal government clean federal monuments, and we should take care of our own. Or doesn’t the deceased “Hometown Heroes of Berne” deserve medals and graveside attention?  After all, they can no longer vote, and they’re not in Arlington National Cemetery. They’re just history.  

George Hebert

Cohoes

Editor’s note: At its June 9 meeting, the Berne Town Board unanimously authorized a contract between the town and Santore’s World Famous Fireworks for what was described at the meeting as a roughly 20-minute Independence Day show, at a cost not to exceed $5,000.