Charleroi Offers Unique Military Banner Program

Last Updated on Saturday, 01 October 2016 17:20

By Jill Brown

The Charleroi Hometown Heroes Banner Program honors those veterans and those on active duty who have served and continue to serve America. Banners purchased by family members feature their pictures and are on display in Charleroi. Nancy Ellis, committee chairwoman, proudly stated of the Charleroi banners, “We did something different with ours. We have custom banners.”

Depicted are both military banners featuring the Messerotes family on one pole.

Ellis speaks of a special banner tribute in particular. It features a banner with two military brothers – the Messerotes brothers – on the same sign, one who served during WWII and the other who served in the Korean War. The two brothers’ dad, Peter Messerotes, Army WWI, is placed below the other banner on the same pole. These banners are placed near the Charleroi Federal Savings Bank on McKean Ave., Charleroi. This is a glorious concept: having the Messerotes family on display.

Each military banner encompasses a U.S. flag background and a double-sided photo, along with the veteran’s name, rank, hometown info, and sponsor’s name.

Charleroi, in addition to creating personalized banners, has other banners of significance as part of their program. One of these banners has the logo of ‘22 Too Many,’ a new banner not hanging as of yet. Approximately 22 veterans a day take their own lives, according to a report released in 2012 by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. This statistic makes this an important banner for all to witness.

There is also a banner depicting “Hometown Heroes” with all the military insignia placed on it: Army, Navy, Marines, etc. Charleroi is saluting them in brilliant color.

To order your own Charleroi Hometown Heroes Banner, please contact Nancy Ellis at 724-797-4875, weeknights and weekends. There is a one-time fee of $100 and an additional $10 for installation. You can create your own original veteran banner, which will be exhibited in Charleroi as a tribute for coming years.

All signs are made by Mon Valley Signs in Charleroi. Ellis, having used this company in the past, commented it was the best. She says, “They keep business here in the Valley.”