It was a normal day for Lesley Grogan and her dog, Lucy, walking on their usual route in Rome when they saw a couple of guys working on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

"I stopped and talked to them," Grogan said. "Lucy loved them. So every night, this was our event. We would stop and visit and then I found out what they were doing and I just became involved."

What You Need To Know

  • Flags honoring heroes will be placed by the B-52 at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome from June 14-20

  • Sponsorships cost $35, but the flags are not for sale

  • The deadline to apply for a sponsorship is June 1

The people she met were Rick Falcone and Mark Jennings, two veterans working on the memorial at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park. Grogan and Lucy joined their efforts.

She’s working with the guys on a new project - the Flags of Honor. People can buy tags honoring their heroes and have it placed on a flag.The flags will be displayed June 14 through June 20, including Flag Day, in front of the B-52 at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park.

"It can be honoring someone that’s worked through COVID, a nurse, a doctor, a family member. The flags aren’t just for the veterans. They’re for someone that’s a hero to you," Grogan said.

"Ever since we started that memorial, the community has just poured forth their heart, their souls, and their pocketbooks, and I can’t thank them enough," said Falcone, president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

The sponsorships cost $35, but the flags are not for sale. Money raised will benefit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Project.

"It’s gonna be very impressive when it’s all set up. Hopefully we’ll do it every year and every year it will get bigger," said Jennings, Vietnam Veteran Memorial Fund vice president.

The deadline to sponsor a flag is June 1.For more information about how to sponsor a flag or help with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Project, visit the Flags of Honor Facebook page or call Lesley Grogan at (315) 725-3294.