The Informational Meeting held on September 2, 2025, in Poughkeepsie City focused on the Hometown Heroes program, aimed at honoring local veterans through the display of their photographs on poles throughout the city. Bob Roberts, a Poughkeepsie High School graduate and Marine Corps veteran, addressed the meeting, expressing his commitment to the initiative and highlighting the success of similar programs in neighboring municipalities.

Roberts detailed his personal connection to the project, noting that both he and his deceased brother enlisted from Poughkeepsie. He emphasized the importance of recognizing veterans from various conflicts, including World War II and the Korean War, and urged city officials to explore solutions to the current manpower shortage hindering the program's progress.

He suggested that the city could reach out to local veterans' organizations to recruit volunteers who could assist in the project. Roberts also mentioned the financial aspects of the initiative, indicating that some towns fully funded their programs while others received partial support or relied on families to cover costs.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from city officials to investigate the feasibility of reviving the Hometown Heroes project, acknowledging the need for collaboration and community involvement to honor the service of local veterans effectively. The city aims to align with other municipalities in celebrating their heroes, with hopes of advancing the initiative in the near future.