Veterans helping to fix Monessen banners

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Local veterans are working diligently to repair damaged banners in Monessen.

More than 400 banners are installed along the city streets each year, but some of the banners were blown down and had their holders damaged by heavy winds and storms.

Members of Life’s Work sheltered workshop have been repairing the banners and recently received help from Monessen American Legion Post 28 and VFW Post 1190.

The veterans spent countless hours cutting, sanding, cleaning and cementing the PVC pipes together to form the supports for the banners.

Roughly 70 banners needed repairs and about 40 have been completed.

VFW Commander Ron Chromulak said he hopes repairs are finished this week.

“It has taken a lot of time,” he said. “Each one is different and can take a little longer than the next depending on damage. I can’t tell you how much time it has taken so far.”

Once the banners and supports are repaired, a group of volunteers will reinstall them on the poles throughout the city.

“We are hoping to have them up in the next few weeks, weather permitting,” Chromulak said.

The veterans hope the community understands it is a difficult and time-consuming process.

“I hope the people who bought the banners realize we are trying to get them back up as fast as we can,” he said. “But we are only volunteers and a lot of us still have full-time jobs, so it is taking some time.”

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