Vandergrift allows police hero banner to stay, opens program to firefighters and EMTs as well

Late Vandergrift police Officer Robert Kirkland’s “Hometown Hero” banner will remain right where it is.

Vandergrift Council on Monday reversed course and voted to expand the types of heroes who can be honored with the banners

Last month, council voted to have Kirkland’s banner removed because, they said, the program was intended only for those who served in the military.

Monday night, council not only rescinded the action on Kirkland’s banner, but also voted to include police officers, firefighters and EMS workers on future banners, along with the veterans.

In a statement read before a packed borough council meeting room, Councilman Peter Basile said the issue of removing Kirkland’s banner “was brought up and should have been tabled so we could get more information. We made an error.”

Basile said proper procedures weren’t followed when the Kirkland banner was placed on a utility pole outside the police station.

“There needs to be parameters on what can and can’t be done,” Basile said. “This definitely had nothing to do with officer Kirkland and his family.”

Mike Riley, president of Vandergrift Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, said firefighters and borough officials met to work out issue.

“We wanted to resolve the situation and come to a consensus opinion,” Riley said. “Council may have acted hastily, but the fire companies will maintain sole control of the banner program.”

Both Basile and Riley said council would decide on any future changes.

Council voted unanimously to include all veterans and first responders and drew a smattering of applause from the crowd of about 40.

An area on the banner will be designated to identify what the honoree did in service.

After the meeting, Vicki Kirkland, widow of Officer Kirkland, handed a prepared statement to a Tribune-Review reporter on the matter:

“I was disheartened when the banner was voted to be taken down and felt it was a personal attack on Bob. Our boys (Connor, 13, and Cooper, 10) were confused, like a lot of other people, why their dad was not considered a hero and did not deserve a hero banner. I don’t understand how much more “hometown hero” you can get than a police officer protecting his hometown. To some, this might be just a banner, but to us, it represents the hero we are still grieving. I’m very happy that council changed their minds and is letting Bob’s banner stay.”

Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Mary Ann at 724-226-4691, mthomas@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MaThomas_Trib. George Guido is a freelance writer.