In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day on May 26, Port Washington will proudly honor its veterans in a powerful new way. Thanks to an initiative led by VFW Post 1819 and local business Home Run Electric, 86 banners featuring the faces and names of our local heroes will soon line Main Street, from Port Washington Boulevard to the Town Dock.

Each banner will spotlight a veteran from World War I to the present day, creating a moving tribute that spans more than a century of service. The banners will be installed on 62 telephone poles along the heart of Port Washington, offering residents and visitors a chance to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by members of our own community.

This initiative was spearheaded by Ken Kraft, former Manorhaven Trustee and Vietnam War veteran. Kraft was inspired after successfully raising over $10,000 for a similar veterans’ banner project in Glen Head, where he previously lived. For Kraft, bringing this tribute home to Port Washington is deeply personal.

“It’s to honor all of my veteran buddies who served our country, grew up, or were living in Port,” Kraft shared. “Three of them never came home with me — Bobby Zwerlein, Billy Polchow, and Francis Trinchitella.”

The Port Washington VFW Post 1819 invites the entire community to come out and view the banners as Memorial Day approaches. This public display not only commemorates those who served but also reminds us all of the courage and sacrifice that define our hometown heroes.

Stay tuned to our News page for updates and photos as the banners are installed.