A Banner Effort: One Woman’s Mission to Preserve Vets’ Stories

COOPERSTOWN—In a small village where banners meant to honor veterans were voted down for non-compliance with the existing sign law, Joanie Parrillo decided to take a different path—one that couldn’t be blocked by a vote or buried in bureaucracy.

What began as a quiet act of remembrance became a deeply personal mission to preserve the voices of those who served, and to ensure their stories would live on.

Parrillo never set out to write a book.

“I didn’t plan this,” Parrillo reflected. “It started with a few conversations, a few memories—and then it grew.”

What followed was a learning experience in every sense: technical hurdles, emotional weight and the challenge of doing justice to lives marked by sacrifice.

Before the book, there were banners.

Parrillo spent seven months advocating for their installation—meeting with officials, drafting proposals and rallying support. When the effort was ultimately denied, she turned her energy inward.

“I spent seven months on the banners,” she said. “Now it’s been seven months on the book. Different paths, same purpose.”

Inclusion in the book was open to any veteran in the Cooperstown vicinity, living or deceased. What Parrillo thought would be a modest 100-page tribute quickly grew into a 300-plus page volume.

“I’d read a poem someone wrote and immediately envision the photo that needed to go with it,” she explained. “Then I’d create it.”

Each page became a blend of memory and artistry—words paired with images that deepened their emotional resonance.

Originally, Parrillo envisioned the book as a hardcover in landscape format. But as the pages grew and costs climbed, she made the difficult decision to change the design.

“I wanted everyone to be able to afford it,” she said. “So, I went with softcover and portrait layout. That was the best I could do—and I think it still honors the stories beautifully.”

Parrillo also took great care to do things the right way. She sought and received copyright permission for every piece she included.

“The cover was the hardest,” she recalled. “I was down to the final days before sending it to the publisher—and I still didn’t have permission.”

With help from a friend, she finally tracked down the owner of the image.

“When I asked and told him the reason for the book, he gave me permission. So did the others. They understood what it meant,” Parrillo said.

A high-school classmate stepped forward to help Parrillo, volunteering her time as an editor—“She didn’t hesitate. She just said, ‘Tell me what you need.’” That spirit of generosity became a theme throughout the project. Others offered feedback, encouragement and ideas, from keepsake designs to event planning.

“You actually find out who shows up,” Parrillo reflected. “And it made a big difference.”

Now that all the veterans and families featured in the book have placed their orders, Parrillo is opening book purchases up to the public. Those interested in securing a copy—including individuals or local stores interested in purchasing for resale—must do so within the next two weeks, as Parrillo needs to give the publisher a final count.

“Now is the time,” she urged. “Once this order goes in, that’s it—unless there’s enough interest later to justify another run.”

The book, as yet untitled, is an 8×11 softcover, over 300 pages, priced at $28.95. Payment must be made by cash, check, or money order. No electronic payments will be accepted. To place an order, mail payment to Joanie Parrillo, PO Box 493, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Questions? Call or text Parrillo at (607) 287-0877.

Though it may not have anything to do with baseball, Parrillo is quick to point out that this book is very much about Cooperstown.

“It’s real Cooperstown history,” she emphasized. “It’s true. It’s raw. It’s emotional. And it matters.”

To ensure that history is preserved for future generations, Parrillo is donating a copy of the book to the village library and to the school.

“This belongs to Cooperstown. It’s part of who we are,” she said.

For Parrillo, this book is more than a project, it’s a promise fulfilled. A promise to honor, to remember, and to carry forward the legacy of those who gave so much. And this fall, she said, that promise will be shared with the community in a celebration worthy of the stories it holds.