Apr 30, 2004 By Steve Ferris 2 min read

A World War II veteran himself, Joe Hardy decided to name a revitalization project targeting Main Street in Uniontown in honor of Gen. George C. Marshall, the city native who became the U.S. Army chief of staff during the war and created the Marshall Plan, which rebuilt Europe. A huge 103-foot-by-65-foot banner with Marshall’s portrait and the name of the plan – George C. Marshall Plan II – is being hung on the side of the Gallatin Avenue Apartments, building on Main Street in Uniontown to help make the public aware of the revitalization plan.

The plan is being funded by a private $1 million personal contribution from Hardy apart from his role as a Fayette County Commissioner.

Charmaine Sampson, Hardy’s secretary and the revitalization project coordinator, said Hardy wanted the banner in place before Saturday’s Americanism Day Parade in downtown.

The 226-pound banner is made of vinyl mesh and is being attached with toggle bolts.

Sampson said it must be secure because engineers did a study and found wind speeds of 60 mph at the top of the apartment building.

Contractors closed Main Street Thursday to traffic and will have to close it again today to complete the project, she said.

Uniontown Mayor James Sileo said the banner is impressive and well worth the trouble to put it up.

“You have to be impressed. When you come past the courthouse and see it there, it does something to you,” Sileo said. “I’m very impressed.”