UTICA — The Good News Foundation has scheduled its Flags for Heroes recognition ceremony for Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the Parkway Recreation Center, according to a media alert distributed Oct. 26.
The ceremony is part of the Flags for Heroes Healing Field display planned along Utica’s Memorial Parkway from Nov. 3 through Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Roger L. Parrino Sr., a retired New York Police Department officer and U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, is the announced guest speaker.
The foundation’s media alert and accompanying 2026 flyer give the same ceremony date, time and location. The event honors people who have served the country and their communities while raising money for Sitrin’s Military Program.
Display and sponsorship details
The foundation’s official event listing describes this as the 12th annual display and says 1,000 U.S. flags are planned. The people honored include active-duty military personnel, veterans, fallen service members and first responders.
Flag sponsorships are listed at $40, and the foundation also welcomes donations. The organization says the display is supported by donations, sponsorships and volunteers.
The display and the recognition ceremony have different schedules: flags are planned for the nine-day period beginning Nov. 3, while the ceremony is a single gathering on Nov. 7. Readers making plans should keep those dates distinct.
For sponsorship questions or ceremony arrangements, contact the Good News Foundation at 315-735-6210 or info@thegoodnewscenter.org. The foundation’s office is at 10475 Cosby Manor Road; the ceremony announcement names the Parkway Recreation Center as the event location.
What the fundraiser supports
The beneficiary, Sitrin’s Military Program, serves veterans and service members facing physical, emotional and cognitive challenges, according to the foundation’s announcement. Readers interested in services can contact Sitrin separately from the event organizers.
On its Military Program webpage, Sitrin describes rehabilitation and civilian-reentry care for injured veterans and service members. The conditions it lists include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and orthopedic diagnoses.
Sitrin says its approach brings together multiple disciplines. Its care-team list includes physicians, psychology, case management, physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, recreation therapy, nursing and nutrition.
The provider also describes activities and therapies that may form part of an individual’s daily program, including counseling, family integration, physical and aquatic therapy, nature-based activities and adaptive sports. Those descriptions explain the program’s scope; they do not establish which treatment would be appropriate for a particular person.
For program information, Sitrin lists 315-737-2435. Prospective participants and families should ask the program directly about eligibility, current availability and the process for an assessment.
Support beyond the display
Sitrin’s broader veteran-care overview also identifies social and recreational opportunities through its Military-Civilian Coalition and adaptive sports through its STARS program. Its Warrior Retreat is described as a summer family camping weekend at Camp Sitrin.
The overview states that post-9/11 veterans who choose treatment at Sitrin pay nothing for their care. Anyone considering the program should confirm how that policy applies to their own circumstances directly with Sitrin.
The Utica Phoenix previously included Flags for Heroes in its Oct. 12 community roundup. This preview uses the foundation’s Oct. 26 media materials for the ceremony details. Neither the display nor the ceremony has taken place yet; attendance and fundraising results are not available.
