RIMERSBURG — Veterans from Rimersburg and Toby Township, Clarion County, will have a chance to be publicly honored for their service with tribute banners, after a business owner was inspired to promote the program for the borough.

Rosalie Bliss, who owns Bloom Town Flowers, said she was inspired to head up the effort after she saw similar efforts honoring veterans in Evans City and other municipalities during travels with her husband.

“It’s awesome. It’s all over the country,” she said.

Bliss spent several months researching different municipalities’ memorial banner programs and corresponding with borough officials, veterans organizations and utility companies.

The group organizing the program, the Rimersburg Hometown Hero Project, also is setting up a nonprofit organization, she said.

“I’ve just been fired up and determined to do it,” Bliss said.

The goal is to print and hang 170 tribute banners on utility poles along Rimersburg’s Main Street. Bliss said utility companies have already given the group permission to use the poles.

The banners will be displayed from Memorial Day until Veterans Day, with the exception of being removed during the borough’s Cookie Daze Festival.

The program will have a dedication ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street in Rimersburg at 2 p.m. May 22.

Bliss hopes the program gains support and interest in the months until then.

“I just want the whole community to be excited about it and the whole community to work on it,” she said.

Applications for the banners will be accepted through April 15, and must include the veteran’s name, rank, military branch and era of service. Applicants also should submit a military photograph if possible to Bloom Town Flowers, 649 Main St., Rimersburg, PA 16248.

To be considered for the program, a veteran must have served in any active duty posting, been honorably discharged or died during his service, and have lived or be living in Rimersburg, Madison or Toby townships.

The program costs $125 per participant, which buys one banner for public display and another, smaller banner for personal use. The fee also includes mounting hardware and maintenance. For information, call Bliss at 814-473-2248.