Veterans' families honor those who served
PARKER, Armstrong County — Nearly 200 banners bearing the images and names of residents who served in the U.S. armed forces grace the utility poles along the city's quiet streets.
The 168 banners in Parker are among the 281 banners hung in Clarion, Venango and Armstrong counties before Memorial Day this year that are the result of the first Hometown Hero banner project in the area.
Veterans and the families of veterans who missed out this year can soon begin submitting applications to purchase banners that will be hung next spring.
“All the banners for this year are up,” said Michael Goughler, a city resident who is spearheading the project.
In addition to Parker, banners were hung in Perryville, West Freedom, Dutch Hill, West Monterey, Foxburg, St. Petersburg and Perry Township in Clarion County, Perry Township in Armstrong County and Emlenton in Venango County.
“It took a year to get to the point of the banners,” Goughler said.The application process is lengthy because it includes approval from the company that makes the banners and the municipalities where the banners will be hung, and the veteran's information must be verified, he said.Applications for next year's banner project will be accepted from July 1 this year to March 21 next year, and 24 people have already signed up to buy the $125 banners, he said.“It starts with one banner. One banner sells a lot. We've got people buying them for next year. I get stopped everywhere now,” Goughler said.He said he started the project in his hometown of Emlenton after learning about another banner project in Rimersburg in Clarion County.Main Street in Emlenton has a banner that he and his mother, Doris, bought in honor of his late father Bruce Goughler, an Army veteran.“When the project started my mom and me knew we were going to get one for my dad,” Goughler said. “All these banners tell a story.”Jaunita Amsler-Kriebel of Parker bought four banners — one for her first husband, the late Robert Amlser, a Marine, one for her current husband Claude Kriebel, an Army veteran, and two for her grandsons Michael and Thomas Amsler. Michael served in the Army and Thomas is a Marine reservist.Smaller banners that came free with the larger banners of the military men in her life are hanging in Bob's Place, which is owned by her son, Robert Amsler Jr.
“I saw the banners in other places. I'm glad they decided to do it here. I think they did a fantastic job. We're very patriotic here,” Amsler-Kriebel said. “This was part of our family that served and we're proud of them and all members of the service.”Claude Kriebel said he is proud of his banner and his service to the country.“I'm proud of it. I was proud to serve in the Army. I was 23 when I went in. That was 60 years ago. I'm 83 now,” he said.Kathy Scheehle of Parker bought five banners to honor her late father Robert Anthony, his brothers Frederick and the late John Anthony who served in World War II, her brother Walter Anthony who served in Vietnam and her husband William Scheehle who also served in the Army.“This is the best thing they ever did for Parker. It puts a lot of class in town. Our veterans don't get enough credit,” she saPeople who want applications to buy banners should contact Goughler at 724-822-7074. He is in charge of the banners in Emlenton, but he said he can put people in contact with those who are running banner projects in the other communities.
