CHICORA — Memorial Day in the borough will look slightly different this year with the addition of memorial banners commemorating the service of veterans lining Main Street.

The banners, which are displayed on telephone polls, were hung as part of an ongoing project by the American Legion to honor veterans.

The borough has 18 banners honoring 36 veterans, said Bob Ripper, one of the organizers of the project. The banners are one-sided, so each pole-mounted display memorializes two veterans, he said.

He called the project an important community display of respect and honor.

“I really like it in the respect that it gives a family a chance to pay honor to their people, and the community to pay honor to the family as well,” Ripper said.

He said the banners should be on display until Veterans Day, but could be taken down sooner if weather conditions threaten to damage them.

The project is headed up by American Legion Post 642 in Chicora, where Ripper is the service officer and chaplain.

He said people can still place orders to have a loved one’s service memorialized. The cost is $100 for a large, one-sided banner that can be displayed by the Legion. Orders also include either a second large banner or two smaller banners.

It usually takes five or six weeks for orders to be filled, Ripper said.

Those interested in placing an order can contact Ripper at 724-504-7182, or 724-445-2957 or Legion adjutant Richard Shoemaker at 724-445-7572.

Butler and Evans City also have veteran banners up as well.