Sewickley resident determined to have military banners ready for Memorial Day

John Dunn carries an 80-pound ladder throughout the streets of Sewickley to install military banners of veterans.

“They deserve the recognition,” said Dunn, 63. “I don’t want people to forget what they’ve done.”

Dunn has made it his mission to replace worn or damaged banners and install additional banners. His goal is to accomplish that by Memorial Day, May 26.

“Sewickley has such a rich history of military service, “ said Dunn, who had many family members serve, including his father and brother. “I want this to be about the veterans. This is about honoring and celebrating their service and sacrifices.”

The project was started in 2012 by Sewickley veterans. The first banners installed are of Vietnam Marine Corps veterans Gary and Marilou Farole, located on the same pole along Broad Street.

There are 170 total banners. Some of them honor the Sewickley Tuskegee Airmen, who were the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces.

“They were risking their lives and and we want to recognize them and honor them,” said Dunn, who worked on this project previously when he was a Sewickley council member.

Sewickley Borough handled the care of the banners for a while, until Dunn returned to the project after retiring. As a way to help with the replacement or repair of banners, he created the “Adopt a Banner” program. For $90, a person can adopt one of the banners that need to be repaired or replaced.

“You don’t have to know the veteran to adopt a banner,” Dunn said. “I believe it’s a civic-minded thing to do and a way to help the program continue. Some of the banners are in bad shape.”

A new banner costs $140 and includes a 36-inch by 24-inch banner, hardware and installation. Banners are displayed year-round.

What Dunn is doing is commendable, said Lee Abercrombie, 80, of Sewickley. Her husband Alfred “Sonny” Abercrombie, served in the U.S. Air Force as a radio operator during the Korean War. She said when she sees the banner, it makes her feel proud. The banner is located in a parking lot off Beaver Street, not far from Safran’s Supermarket.

“He loved being in the service,” Lee Ambercrombie said of her husband. “I thank John Dunn for taking the time to do this. It’s fantastic.”

Dunn recalled PA Rep. Valerie Gaydos doing a program with Sewickley Academy students to find banners of veterans with connections to the school. He said that collaboration was a wonderful way for students to learn about the people who are the reason we have freedom.

Dunn plans to rent a bucket truck to reach heights and help with the installation of banners.

As a former Comcast employee, Dunn has climbed thousands of poles, so he’s experienced. Before any banner is placed on a utility pole, he makes sure to contact Duquesne Light to get approval.

“I am pretty comfortable climbing poles,” said Dunn. “It can be dangerous, but I take all the safety precautions. I will have the banners up before Memorial Day. I am determined to get those banners up with a bucket truck, or if not, then I will bring out my ladder.”