A pair of Otego women — with a lot of help — have transformed the grounds of the American Legion post in their village.
The traditional Memorial Day ceremony in Otego included the unveiling of new signs saluting Otego’s war dead, in a plaza created on what used to be the Legion’s front lawn.
Roxana Hurlburt said Monday she noticed the previous sign at the Legion was more than 60 years old and was rotted. Right after last year’s Memorial Day ceremony, she said, she and friend Denise MacNeilly decided to help. “The American Legion, like every American Legion, doesn’t have a large membership, Hurlburt said. “We offered to help. Otego’s a nice little community. Most everybody knows everybody.”
Hurlburt also said her desire to help was spurred by the fact that her husband and son are veterans.
MacNeilly described the project, saying a stamped concrete patio now surrounds the flagpole in front of the legion, and four fieldstone pillars with bluestone caps hold the “Hometown Heroes” signs. U.S. flags, as well as red, white and blue flowers, surround the area, and more flowers, in red, white and blue planters, surround the Legion building.
Tarps covered the signs from the time of their installation until Monday’s ceremony, Hurlburt said. The ceremony also included local Boy Scouts, who presented a U.S. flag and a Prisoners of War flag to be raised by Legion members.
Hurlburt said local businesses and residents helped with fundraising for the project, and that Josh Quinn, manager of the Home Depot store in Oneonta, helped both with advice and donation of materials. Flowers, too, were provided by the Home Depot, through a vendor that operates there.
The Otego American Legion post, and the new installation, can be found at the corner of Willow and Newland streets in the village.