The DPW sign in the rotary is usually used for public safety announcements like road paving but when it's free they use it for welcome home messages.
Photo credit: FilePhoto

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. – Now that many troops are returning from the Middle East, Westborough wants to welcome them home by announcing their return on the sign in the Westborough Rotary.

Residents who have family members returning can call the Department of Public Works to request the announcement on the sign. If the sign isn’t being used for safety issues the DPW can post the announcement, said Assistant Director Rich Voudas.

“We get the information from the family and they go through the DPW. We’ll put it up if we don’t have a safety issue,” Voudas said. “They’re coming back from war. It’s the least we could do.”

Interested families can call the DPW and give the name, rank and date they’re returning.

“We like to try and have it up when they get home,” Voudas said.

Voudas said the DPW doesn’t publicize the service but a lot of people have found out through word of mouth.

“One family sees it and then someone else’s sees it and they call us,” Voudas said. “Originally someone had the idea and called us and it just snowballed from there.”

To announce a family member’s homecoming, call the Westborough DPW at 508- 366-3070.