Banners honoring Harrison’s military veterans are being sold to raise money for the restoration of the township’s World War II Honor Roll memorial.
The 75-year-old sandstone memorial at Freeport and Springhill roads was partially restored last year. That work — which included stone repointing and repair, pressure washing, and patching — helped stabilize the crumbling memorial.
Still remaining is replacing the memorial’s black glass panels of painted names with etched black granite.
All profits from the sale of banners will go directly to help fund the memorial’s restoration, according to Eric Bengel, a member of the memorial restoration committee.
The banners will feature the name and picture of a veteran. They will be placed next to existing township banners on utility poles along Freeport Road, River Avenue and Broadview Boulevard, committee member Bill Rudolph said.
About 150 banners will be available and sold on a first-come basis. They will cost $175 each, Rudolph said.
Gray Signs in Tarentum is taking banner orders.
The names of nearly 2,000 veterans are on the memorial. It was dedicated Oct. 29, 1945, and turned over to the township May 24, 1965.
As part of the restoration, the committee is attempting to correct names that are misspelled and add names that are missing. Corrections and additions are due by March 31.
A listing of the memorial’s names as they currently appear is available online at www.harrisonhonorroll.org.
A living Christmas tree may also become part of the memorial site.
Harrison Commissioner Chuck Dizard said officials are looking into buying a Norway spruce that could be planted there and decorated as the township’s Christmas tree.
If done, it would replace having one cut and placed temporarily on the grounds of St. Joseph High School.
A Christmas tree would augment the memorial, and place it in the center of town, Dizard said.
“We’ll see if it works,” he said.
