Letter from Dan Koerner

Coop Turns Its Back on Vets

In a move that has left residents stunned and infuriated, the Village of Cooperstown Board of Trustees has cast a shameful 6-1 vote against a proposal to display banners honoring local veterans [Coop Board of Trustees: ‘No’ to Proposed Sign Law Amendment,” October 31, 2024]. This decision has prompted widespread outrage, leaving many questioning the board’s commitment to core American values and the very freedoms our veterans sacrificed to protect.

The proposal was a straightforward, cost-effective measure to hang banners on utility poles throughout Main Street to recognize and thank Cooperstown’s veterans. Much like banners seen in communities across our state and nation, they would serve as a visible reminder of respect and gratitude for those who served.

With this vote, however, the board has stripped our veterans and their families of this dignity.
Our veterans deserve nothing but respect, and this vote is a slap in the face to their service and sacrifice. Cooperstown is known as the home of our national pastime, but now it might as well be known as a national embarrassment for turning its back on those who defended it. The board’s commitment to a woke agenda has crossed the line.

With this heartless decision, the Cooperstown Village Board has made its priorities clear, and they are not with our veterans or the values of Otsego County.

Dan Koerner
Chairman, Otsego GOP