Banner project honors heroes
EVANS CITY — The U.S. military slogan “All gave some, some gave all,” was displayed and recited solemnly Tuesday night at VFW Post 499.
The post’s banquet hall was packed with people who came to honor Sgt. Nicholas Tomko, U.S. Army, who was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He is one of the soldiers who will be honored by the borough’s new military banners program organized by Mayor Dean Zinkhann. The 24-by-36-inch banners, showing soldiers both dead and alive, will be hung from utility poles on Main Street.
Tomko, 24, of McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, died when his humvee was hit by mortar fire and missiles south of Baghdad on Nov. 9, 2003. He was a member of the Army Reserves 307th Military Police Company from New Kensington, Westmoreland County.
Wayne Perry, commander for District 25 of the VFW, was there to present the banner to Tomko’s family.
He said every person who enlists in the military puts his life on the line and some are not lucky enough to return home alive.
“Sgt. Nicholas Tomko signed a blank check for his country. Unfortunately Iraq cashed that check,” he said.
Tomko’s father Jack Tomko of Evans City was supposed to accept the banner, but he was too emotional and declined to attend, Perry said.
Instead, Smith Gailey, a family friend who said he was close to Tomko, accepted it on behalf of the family.
“I would like to tell you what I know Jack would say, and I am very sure that Nick would say: every one of you that ever put a uniform on, or ever will, we thank you for your service,” Gailey said.
Justin Trainor, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and candidate for Butler County commissioner, spoke and commended Evans City for starting the banner project.
“When I heard about the banner project, I immediately told everyone I knew. I think this should be a benchmark for communities across the country to represent and honor our comrades, especially those fallen in action,” Trainor said.
County Commissioner Jim Eckstein said it is good that communities want to honor the military. During the Vietnam War, soldiers were not treated well when they returned home, he said.
“People couldn’t separate the protest from the soldiers and it was really different. Now I come here tonight and I had to park pretty far away to get here. All these wonderful people came to celebrate Nick and it’s a real honor,” he said.
Zinkhann said he has 22 soldiers signed up to be honored with banners, but he is looking to get as many as possible.
“We’ll take all we can get. I want to line the street with them,” he said.
They will be hung on Main Street from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.
A banner costs $80.
Application forms and more information on the banner program are available at www.troopbanners.com/evanscity.
