Communities’ all around have been honoring our veterans in various ways. One increasingly common method of honor are the placements of banners within community poles.
My mother saw this potential in the paper for Kittanning, Pennsylvania. She kept the article until the community was prepared to begin the process of gathering names and photos of veterans. Of course she wanted to honor her husband and my father with such a banner. His name is Allen Kenneth Smail. The banner is shown above.
The paperwork was completed and the borough of Kittanning will be placing my father’s banner prior to memorial day of 2021.I am very proud and looking with anticipation when this banner is displayed. Thank you dad.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
Congratulations to your family and to Kittanning to finally get this accomplished! It is certainly a worthy endeavor to honor our military members.
I was so proud of Rural Valley when they decided to honor the military members that were Cowanshannock Valley residents! Sagamore, NuMine, Rural Valley, Yatesboro, Rose Valley an adjoining villages were included.
There are approximately 10% of residents joining the military from Armstrong County … this small region has had almost 15%! There are enough banners (doubled 2 per telepole) to line Main St Rural Valley for the entire 1.25 miles of town, and enough to double back on other side of street for 1/2 mile!!!
I was extremely excited to be able to have my father’s banner (Robert L Smith, USAF, Airman Second Class) sharing the same pole as mine (Timothy N Smith, USAF, Master Sergeant).
Timothy N Smith
Patriot Guard Riders-Pennsylvania State Captain
Thank you Tim. It will be a time of honor and respect for me once I see his banner. I am sure you felt the same way upon seeing your father’s banner. And, to have your banner on the same pole. That is great! Thank you.