If you’re driving along Kinderkamack Road in Emerson, you may notice colorful banners featuring photos of military service members displayed on lamp posts. The banners serve as a tribute to the men and women who have served in the armed forces, offering a visual “thank you” to these brave individuals.
Perry Solimando, a local resident who purchased one of these banners, shares that he did so in honor of his father, Joseph Solimando.
“He was drafted into the US Army during World War II on December 1, 1943, at the age of 18. My dad was a POW (prisoner of war) from September 3, 1944, until May 13, 1945,” Solimando explains.
According to the military banner website, the banners are beautifully designed, full-color displays measuring 30 x 60. They feature the honoree’s photo and basic military information, with the option to include the family or business name. The banners honor veterans who either live in Emerson now or have resided there in the past.
“Every time I pass his banner it makes me smile thinking of him and how proud he would be to see it up on the pole,” Solimando said. “When Mr. [Robert] Hermansen told me the town was starting the banner program, he asked me for a picture of my father in his uniform to put on the flyer the town was going to distribute. I thought that would be a great honor to see my father’s picture flying.“
Hermansen is the borough administrator for Emerson. Solimando said that Emerson was the first town in our area to launch the banner program, and since then, several other towns have followed suit.
Fifth-grader Grace Nejmeh, a student at Patrick M. Villano School, has seen the banners around town.
“To me, military veterans are people who fought in World War II, sacrificing their lives for the freedom of the United States,” Nejmeh says. “I feel very grateful for our freedom and all they did for our country.”
The banners will fly from Memorial Day through Veteran’s Day along main roads in Emerson this year. The cost to sponsor a banner is $200.
