Norwood hosts banner unveiling

The Norwood Veterans Office, in conjunction with Military Tribute Banners, the Norwood VFW Post 2452 and several other sponsoring organizations came together with about 100 residents on Saturday for the unveiling of the Norwood Hero Banners Program at the Disabled American Veterans Park (DAV).

Norwood Veterans Agent Derek Wennerstrand said the program honors local veterans by allowing family, friends, or simply interested parties to sponsor a hero banner for about $100. The banners show a photo of the veteran, their service branch and their record.

Scores, if not hundreds of banners surrounded the park.

“I want to thank everyone for being a part of this and coming out today,” Wennerstrand said. “I want to give a special thank to those individuals and organizations that donated to the program, especially the North Walpole Fish and Game Club, VFW Post 2452, and the Norwood Firefighters Local 1631. Your generosity helped cover the costs associated with the program and bolstered the family donation fund run through the Veteran Services Office run through the Town Hall.”

The day was also a presentation to Maria Hill of the Medal of Fidelity honoring her late husband, Dennis Hill. The award goes to veterans who died from “invisible wounds,” which include occupational cancers, PTSD, suicide, substance abuse and more.

“It honors military members who died from illnesses linked to their service,” he said. “The recipient of this medal today is Maria Hill, whose husband, Dennis Hill, passed away last October from health complications directly related to Agent Orange exposure. Sgt. Dennis Hill was deployed to Vietnam for over two-and-a-half years as an Army Paratrooper in the Second and Third Battalions 503rd Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, colloquially known as the Sky Soldiers.”

Wennerstrand said Hill and his fellow soldiers served in part raiding the enemy to disrupt activities and were often air dropped into the jungle to seek out and destroy the enemy.

“Their operational tempo was high, and so was the casualty rate,” he said. “Sgt. Hill helped lead several missions, logged many flight hours in these air assaults, coming under hostile fire and receiving multiple wounds over the course of his tour. As a result, Sgt. Hill was awarded Army Air medals, two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star as well as several other medals related to his honorable service in Vietnam.”

Wennerstrand said Hill worked as an Army recruiter after leaving combat service, and then was discharged and worked for John Hancock in Boston and remained an active member of the veterans associations in the area.

Maria Hill said she felt humbled to receive the medal for her husband.

“I feel very honored to receive this medal for my husband,” she said. “It makes me feel good, makes me feel proud.”

Wennerstrand said when he first started in 2024, the banner program was on the top of his “to do” list. But it wasn’t as easy as soliciting input and putting up signs.

“I quickly realized that it was not as simple as buying banners and putting them up on electrical poles, as some have frustratingly commented publicly,” he said. “The process was trying at times, chasing emails, phone calls, scheduling meetings with Town leadership, department heads, vetting companies and learning their processes, putting together presentations for veterans organizations, and acquiring approval. It quickly became apparent that this project would become more demanding than even I anticipated. But we got it done.”

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Wennerstrand said they are looking to expand the program with more banners in more locations in the coming years, but it’s not the most simple thing. Wennerstrand said they picked the DAV Park for the obvious reasons – the park is aimed at honoring military service already and is a scenic area where people gather – but also because the Town owns all the utility poles around the park, which isn’t the case all over Norwood. This allows for easier installation, as they don’t have to ask Verizon for permission.

“This park has the potential to become a focal point here in Norwood honoring our military and veteran citizens,” he said.

Wennerstrand pointed to the multi-million-dollar plans to renovate and upgrade the park. He said he hopes the political will comes together to support the renovation of the park.

Wennerstrand said Town administration, the Board of Selectmen, the Department of Public Works, the Norwood Light Department, former VSO Teddy Mulvehill and Wennerstrand’s assistant, Cynthia Postler were also instrumental in making the program successful.

For more information on the banner program, go to https://gvimes.link/herobanner