Frequently Asked Questions

I want to order a new banner or a re-print of a retired banner.
What do I do?

1. Banner Reprints
New This Year! A number of our oldest banners must be retired this year
due to fading. Sponsors may order an exact re-print of their retired banner by simply completing the top portion of the banner application form (download or available at area businesses and churches), and submitting it, along with a check for $105, to Shanksville Borough, as directed on the application. Be sure to include the name on the banner to be re-printed in the memo line of your check.

Thanks to the generosity of Weyand Sign Company, for the foreseeable future all banners will be taken down each fall, then reinstalled the following spring. Hopefully this will extend the life of the banners.

2. If this is a brand new banner application, follow the 5 steps below:

1. Collect this information about the person you wish to honor with a banner:

full name as you wish it to appear on the banner
rank at the time of discharge, or current rank if active duty
dates served, such as 1944 to 1946 or 1974 to 1978 (years only)
any prestigious medals received, such as Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart, etc. The veteran’s discharge Form DD-214 will be helpful in establishing accurate information.

2. Download the application form or pick up a paper copy of the form at an area business or church. Use the information you’ve gathered in step 1 to complete it.

3. Locate a good quality photo of the honoree, preferably in uniform. If possible, have the photo scanned at a high resolution (600 dpi) to convert it to digital format. If you don’t have the equipment to do this, contact us at shanksvillesalutes@gmail.com and we can help, or take the photo to a printing or copying business with this capability and have them scan it at 600 dpi and email it to shanksvillesalutes@gmail.com

4. Mail the completed application, a copy of the veteran’s Form DD-214, if possible, and a check for $105 to Shanksville Borough, PO Box 127, Shanksville, PA 15560. Make your check payable to Shanksville Borough with the words, “Military Banner Project” in the memo line.

5. Email the digital photo of the service member you wish to honor to shanksvillesalutes@gmail.com with the veteran’s name in the subject line. If you don’t have a digital photo, please use our Contact for assistance. We can arrange to scan your photo while you wait. Please do not mail ORIGINAL photos!

Complete all five steps before Friday, February 12, 2027

What if I don’t have a good-quality photograph of the veteran I wish to honor?

Call us to discuss this problem. Even a wallet-sized photo can make an acceptable banner if it is scanned properly. Photos can be either black and white or color. If no photos of the veteran exist, we can substitute a silhouette resembling a soldier of the correct era.

What if I don’t have the Form DD-214 for my service member? Can I still sponsor a banner?

Yes! We will work with you to locate the necessary information for the banner.

What is the size of the banner?

The banners are 24” wide by 48” high. They are made of heavy-duty vinyl and printed with the same image on both sides.

When will the banners be installed?

The goal is to install the banners during the month of May 2027, so they will be in place for Memorial Day. These durable vinyl banners are projected to last 2 to 3 years.

What happens to my banner when it is retired after 2 to 3 years?

When they can no longer be displayed, retired banners will be offered to their sponsors to keep, but must be picked up in Shanksville. If the banner you sponsored in the past is faded and needs to be retired, you will be notified by email, phone, or letter, and given the chance to order a re-print at a cost of
$105, if you wish. You will also be given the dates and times when you can pick up your retired banner in Shanksville. If you do not wish to have the retired banner, we will dispose of it for you.

Can any military person be honored on a banner?

For this project, a service person honored with a banner must be honorably discharged or actively serving, and either the service person OR his or her immediate family must have lived full-time in the Shanksville-Stonycreek School District (that’s Shanksville Borough, Stonycreek Township, or Indian Lake Borough) for at least 10 years.

May I use a credit or debit card, Zelle, Venmo, or other electronic means to pay for my banner?

No. At this time the only method of payment we can accept is a check made payable to Shanksville Borough with “Military Banner Project” in the memo line.

May I donate to the project even if I don’t have a local service member to honor?

Yes! Donations in any amount are welcome and may be sent in the form of a check made out to Shanksville Borough with “Military Banner Project” in the memo line. Mail to Shanksville Borough at PO Box 127, Shanksville, PA 15560.

Is this project a fundraiser for some organization?

No. The $105 cost to sponsor a new banner or purchase a reprint of a retired banner is exactly the cost of printing and shipping them to Shanksville. The installation cost has been generously donated this year by Weyand Sign Company of Stoystown and Shanksville.

May I select the location of the pole where my banner will hang?

No. We will make every attempt to place the banners at appropriate locations, but we cannot guarantee a specific placement. There is limited space remaining within Shanksville Borough to hang additional banners, but there are many suitable locations along Stutzmantown Road, Brotherton Road, Shanksville Road, Cornerstone Road, Lambertsville Road, and Causeway.

What is the deadline for the application and payment, and, if applicable, the photo and
military information, to be submitted?

Friday, February 12, 2027

Will my name appear on the banner as the sponsor?

No. We have chosen to use the limited space of the banner to honor the named veteran or service member and to thank all those who have served our country.

Who designed this banner?

A committee appointed by Shanksville Borough Council consulted local veterans for input and worked with a graphic artist at Gates Flag and Banner of Clifton, NJ, to create this design which is unique to Shanksville’s project. The final design was approved by Shanksville Borough Council.

Can my out-of-town relatives get involved in this project?

Yes, as long as the one being honored OR his or her immediate family lived in the Shanksville community for at least 10 years. Share this link with them to get started: www.shanksvillesalutes.org