Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Jan Brown, secretary, Mahoning Veterans Memorial, stands next to the “Stand Together-A Veteran’s Flag” that will be on display at the group’s cabin during the Canfield Fair.

CANFIELD — The Mahoning Veterans Memorial Cabin at the Canfield Fairgrounds will host a special flag this year.

The “Stand Together-A Veteran’s Flag” will be on display and highlighted during a ceremony 1 p.m. Friday. The flag is signed by veterans everywhere it is displayed. The program is under the direction of Veterans Standing Together Across America.

“What is very special about this flag is the fact it is made out of 4,300 drywall screws,” said Jan Brown, secretary for Mahoning Veterans Memorial.

The drywall screws were painted red, white and blue. As the screws were driven into place, each had its own length to be driven into the backing. Some were driven further than others, ending up with a 3D waving flag.

“This particular flag is circulating in Ohio,” Brown said. “There is another in Anchorage, Alaska, and another in Honolulu, Hawaii.”

The flag will be featured at the ceremony and a local veteran will be honored. Patrick Romeo of Boardman will be honored for the completion of the 10,000-mile Hoka Key Motorcycle Challenge. Romeo is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Brown said Romeo rode his motorcycle in the challenge in 2020 to bring awareness to veteran suicide. He was rider number 988.

In 2022, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline changed from a 10-digit phone number to a quick dial number, which is now 988.

That coincidence was enough for Romeo to enter the 2024 Hoka Hey ride and help raise funds for the Resurrecting Lives Foundation.

The foundation was started by Chrisanne Gordone to help veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury.

The 2024 Hoka Key Challenge started Aug. 4 in Daytona, Florida, and heads to the final destination in Homer, Alaska. According to the Hoka Hey website, the challenge is expected to take 16 to 18 days to complete, so Romeo got back in plenty of time to be honored at the fair.

“We will be paying tribute to Patrick Romeo for completing his second 10,000-mile run,” Brown said.

During the Friday ceremony, military veterans in attendance will have the opportunity to sign the frame of the flag.

The MVM Cabin is located on the west side of the fairgrounds near state Route 46, and just south of the historic Western Reserve Village.