Tom Regan is a man with a vision, but it’s one that needs the help of the entire Capital District community to bring it to life.
Since World War II, more than 560 Capital District residents have lost their lives while serving the country and Regan, a Vietnam veteran, knows these fallen soldiers need to be remembered.
“The sacrifice has been unbelievable from the Capital District,” Tom Regan said. “They have died in World War II, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea … it’s a community effort to honor their lives and their family.”
That’s why Regan launched “Operation: Please Remember Me.” The effort involves placing 140 flags with a black mourning banner along Route 9 in the Town of Colonie, from Memorial Hospital to Route 155, for the public to see from May 11 through July 13.
Each flag will represent four soldiers and will be equipped with a solar light so they can be seen at night. But at $141 a piece, the project’s $25,000 price tag is hefty. Regan is hoping the Capital District community will chip in to honor those killed in action.
“It doesn’t have to be, ‘Oh let me give you a $10,000 check or buy every single flag.’ No, it’s a community thing,” said Gene Loparco, a Vietnam veteran who met Regan at the American Legion Zaloga Post and decided to join in on his project. “We want everyone to have the same opportunity so everyone can say they purchased a flag. We want everyone to have a part of this.”
Although the project wasn’t officially launched until Wednesday, Jan. 2, both Regan and Loparco have been going door-to-door to homes and businesses, handing out packets and flyers. Regan said there has been an outpouring of support from National Grid, Verizon and more. They also plan to approach larger corporations in the area in the coming months.
Over the course of just a few months, the project has already received the blessing of elected officials, too, including Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Colonie Town Supervisor Paula Mahan.
“I’m really honored that it’s going to be in the Town of Colonie so our people can participate in this event,” Mahan said. “I just think it’s a wonderful project and I wholeheartedly support it. I think it’s a great way to honor those that have served our country.”
As a second part to the project, any funds that exceed the $25,000 cost will go to fixing up the deteriorating Albany County Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Joe Pollicino, a Vietnam vet and friend of Regan’s since high school, began the memorial rededication project a year ago, but has collected only $50,000 towards the necessary $250,000. Pollicino said they plan to replace the area surrounding the memorial with granite and add granite benches. When Pollicino heard about Regan’s project, they both knew they needed to collaborate.
“Every dime over the cost of the flags will go to the memorial,” Regan said.
The team has to raise the money for the flags by April 1 to order them a month in advance. They already have a group of volunteers to mount the flags onto poles. A week before Memorial Day, when the flags are officially hung, Regan said they the group wants to have a dignified procession of people walk along the route and salute to each flag to honor the victims. The flags will also only be hung up for a couple of months so their purpose won’t be “taken for granted,” Loparco said, and he hopes the display and procession can become an annual affair.
“It’s unbelievable the reception we’ve gotten,” Regan said. “It’s a labor of love.”
Regan also stressed that it’s more than possible the list of names they have is not complete. Also, more often than not, soldiers from the area have died and are never honored in their hometown.
“This is the fog of war. You just get lost in the shuffle, nobody knows. You’re in a situation where you give your life for your country and nobody even knows you were from Albany,” Regan said.
He said he’s hoping family members will come forward if they want someone honored they don’t already know about. Regan said they hope to get a website with a list of the names up soon, but the team consists of more “door-to-door guys.”
“We don’t know how to reach out electronically yet,” he said.
As a brand new project and with only a few months to raise a significant amount of money, the men are fairly confident they’ll raise all the funds they’ll need.
“We’re gonna get it done. Every flag will be bought. I can guarantee that. There will be 140 flags that will be flying on the date we put them up,” Pollicino said.
To donate to “Operation: Please Remember Me,” make checks payable to Please Remember Me and mail them to Trustco Bank, Newton Plaza Office at 602 New Loudon Road, Latham, NY 12110. For more information on the project or if you know someone who should be honored, email [email protected].