press release

WARSAW — The seventh banner cycle of the “Warsaw Salutes You” banner recognition program is currently on display on East Market Street in Warsaw.

The 25 banners being presented for Veterans Day recognize veterans, memorial honorees and a serving military member. The banners will be displayed for a whole year.

The “Warsaw Salutes You” banner program began in 2020 as the KYLA project of Warsaw Community High School student Elizabeth Stone. Since the program’s inception, 125 awardees have been recognized. Stone is currently attending college. Her mentor, Miechi Petro; and mother, Megan Stone, oversees the integrity of the program in her absence.

After noticing banners displayed in other communities, Elizabeth was motivated to bring the project to the greater Warsaw area. She was also inspired by her older brother, Lt. Nate Stone, a 2012 WCHS graduate and KYLA member who has served in the Navy since 2016. The program’s hope is to recognize and honor those individuals who have served or who currently serving in the Navy. military, to build and strengthen a spirit of community and patriotism.

The 2024 Warsaw Te Saluta banners honor the following people:

• US Navy Corporal Bret Slaybaugh, 1982-1986
• US Army Sergeant Keith Sheets, Vietnam War, Indiana Army National Guard
• US Army Captain Joseph S. Swanson, WWII
• US Marine Corps Capt. Brian J. Swanson, Global War on Terrorism (Iraq)
• US Air Force Staff Sergeant Steven Hettler, Vietnam War
• US Coast Guard Petty Officer Ayrton James, 2023 to present
• US Army Sergeant Otis Williams, 1959-1966
• US Army Private First Class Kyle Allen, 1983-1989
• US Army Specialist 4th Class Larry Neher, Vietnam War
• US Navy Construction Mechanic Kenneth E. Swain, Vietnam War, Seabees
• US Marine Corps Sergeant Christopher O. Solorzano, 2016-2020
• US Army Aircrew Dan A. Somers, Cold War Era
• US Navy Chief Petty Officer Frederick Gresso, WWII
• US Army Corporal Clifford L. Pifer, WWII
• US Air Force Staff Sergeant Michael Davis, Vietnam War
• US Marine Corps Sergeant Jim “Whitey” Wideman, Vietnam War
• Raymond Bledsoe, US Marine Corps Private First Class, Vietnam War
• US Army Sergeant Carl “Bonsey” Bevins, Vietnam War
• US Army Specialist Kimberly Pulsipher, Panama
• US Army Private 1st Class Max A. Huffer, 1956-1962
• US Marine Corps Sergeant Alexander Miller, 2017-2022
• US Army Sergeant Randy Jones, Vietnam era
• US Marine Corps Sergeant James “Rick” Jacobs, Vietnam War
• US Army Specialist Kerry Boggs, Vietnam War
• US Army Private Homer Murphy, KIA Battle of the Bulge, WWII

An application was submitted by twin brothers, Tommy and Jimmy Seifert, who are currently serving in the military on active duty. They chose to honor their grandfather, Frederick Gresso, who served as a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After returning home from World War II, Gresso built a home on East Market Street in Warsaw, where he and his wife raised their family. The grandchildren requested that Gresso’s banner be hung in his honor on the pole located on East Market Street in front of the house their grandfather built.

This cycle of banners also includes Joseph S. Swanson and Brian J. Swanson, grandfather and grandson. These honorees are sponsored by Randy and Barb Swanson. Also recognized is the only active duty honoree, Ayrton James, currently serving as a Petty Officer in the US Coast Guard. The son of Chad and Heather James of Warsaw, Ayrton is assigned to the Detroit Sector and works as a marine science technician. Its duties include promoting and ensuring safe sea travel and environmental protection.

Several honorees are sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 49.

Sponsors may request an application for the 2025 Veterans Day cycle by email (email protected). Banners are awarded to the first 25 completed applicants. To qualify, honorees must be on active duty or have served in the United States Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or National Guard. Honorees must be former or current residents of the greater Warsaw area. The cost of the banner is $65, and following the one-year display cycle, the banners are cleaned and returned to applicants as a memento.

All are invited to stroll the East Market Street corridor to admire the banners and honor servicemen and women for their service. Special thanks to Graycraft Printing for excellence and Warsaw Street Department for support and cooperation. Visit the Warsaw Salutes You Facebook page for featured banner photos. For more information, contact Megan Stone at (574) 527-3723.

Warsaw Salutes You Banner Program supported Pierceton representatives to help volunteers start a Hometown Hero program in the Pierceton community as well. For more information about the Pierceton Honors program, contact Deb Finken at (574) 453-7415.