Rimersburg Honors Hometown Heroes

Ron Wilshire

Ron Wilshire

Published May 18, 2016 11:00 am
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RIMERSBURG, Pa. (EYT) – “I think it’s time we stand up and be proud of who we are and how we got this way and how we’ve come to be who we are,” said Rosalie Bliss who spearheaded a community effort to honor its hometown heroes.

(Photo: Bliss with two of the banners yet to be hung.)

A total of 170 banners honoring veterans now lines Main Street and part of Baker Street. The banners will have the picture of the veteran honored along with their name, rank, branch of military and era of service.

“Our deadline for taking applications was April 15 and since then, the families have gotten their yard banners, set them outside, and put them on social media which has spread the word. People are calling me, messaging me, wanting to know if they can get banners,” said Bliss. “Next year we’ll get permission to go up other streets, and we can do more.  The banners that we have this year can be re-hung for $10.00 after we get the new banners for 2017 hung.  Once that deadline passes, people can come in with banners from this year, and it’s first come, first served.”

All of the veterans are included on a tribute website at https://www.troopbanners.com/rimersburg/.

“This was such an awesome project that we felt we needed to something to help the public, our neighbors, and our families here for everything they’ve done,” said Bliss.  “I may have started this project, but I did not do it by myself.  The whole community built this project. We’re having music, and our students from the Union Elementary and High School come down and we’ve having essays and little skits.  We want all of the community and neighbors to attend, so you can get the feel of who we are here in Rimersburg.  We are Veteran Proud.”

The dedication ceremony will be held Sunday, May 22, at 2:00 p.m. at the Veteran Museum Park on Main Street. In case of rain, it will be held at the community building.

Criteria for the tribute, includes those on active duty in any armed service, an honorably discharged veteran, or one who gave his/her life serving in the armed service. They must have lived in or be living in Rimersburg Borough, or Madison, or Toby Township.

Costs of the banners ($125.00) are paid by the families of the veterans or through funds donated from other interested parties. The only cost to Rimersburg Borough is installation, and Bliss said there were plenty of volunteers.

The 24X36 banners were put up in time for Memorial Day and will be removed after Veterans Day.

For more information, please call 814-473-2248.



Photo courtesy of Barry Stewart

Photo courtesy of Barry Stewart

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