Faces of the Valley: Plum boy organizes effort, rallies support to display U.S. flags in Plum
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Some Plum residents see the businesses along Route 22 in Murrysville and wonder why they can’t have some of them in the borough.
When 11-year-old Ethan Nesbit saw the “Flags over Murrysville” display, he didn’t just have the same question, he did something about it.
Calling his idea “Patriotic in Plum,” Ethan pitched it to borough officials and garnered the support of community and veterans organizations, leading to 14 U.S. flags being placed on light poles along Mike Thomas Way this summer.
“I think it’s pretty good,” Ethan said of how his effort turned out. “I wanted to show how patriotic this community is.”
Ethan, a sixth grader at Holiday Park Intermediate School, is motivated by his grandfather, Roger Nesbit, 75, who served in the Navy during Vietnam. Roger Nesbit, then 19, is smiling brightly on one of the veterans banners already displayed along Mike Thomas Way, now underneath the U.S. flags Ethan put there.
Ethan has aspirations of serving in the Navy one day and possibly attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Roger Nesbit, clearly, is proud of his only grandson.
“We need to reestablish a little more patriotism around here,” he said. “Someone’s got to start it.”
Ethan is one of Jim and Anna Nesbit’s two children. High school sweethearts who graduated from Plum in 2003, they also have a daughter, Evelyn, 9.
Evelyn is in fourth grade at Pivik Elementary, where her father teaches third grade. Anna Nesbit is co-owner and director of Soxman Funeral Home.
Anna Nesbit said Ethan saw the flags displayed in Murrysville for Memorial Day, liked how they looked and asked her why they didn’t have that in Plum.
Flags Over Murrysville marked its 30th anniversary in 2021.
“I explained that a lot goes into putting something up along the road,” she said.
Jim Nesbit thought his son was taking on a big task.
“When he puts his mind to something, it’s made up that’s what he’s going to do,” Jim Nesbit said.
Ethan went to the podium and explained his proposal to Plum Council in June, garnering its support and leading to meetings with borough administrators and public works staff.
“He did an excellent job,” Mayor Harry Schlegel said. “He was well-spoken. If he was nervous, he didn’t show it.”
To buy the flags and supplies, which Ethan wanted to ensure were all American made, he went to community groups, such as the American Legion, Rotary and Knights of Columbus, and received more than 50 individual contributions. He raised a little over $2,500.
“It really was a community effort,” Anna Nesbit said. “We’ve been thrilled to see that people feel so strongly about seeing the American flag flying in the borough and wanting to support a young man with a vision.”
Ethan spoke to more than a dozen members of American Legion Post 980 in Plum at their monthly meeting in July.
“I don’t think there was anyone at the post that night that wasn’t very impressed with that young man,” said Jeff Pope, the post’s senior vice commander.
After speaking with Ethan about his project, Gettysburg Flag Works, a flag supplier, gave him a discount. The cost came to about $1,200, Anna Nesbit said.
Ethan was present as the borough’s public works employees put the flags up Aug. 28. The plan is for them to be displayed each year from Memorial Day to Veterans Day.
“It’s a nice addition to Mike Thomas Way,” borough Manager David Soboslay said. “He’s the one that took the initiative. That’s where the credit should go.”
While Ethan will use his leftover money to maintain or replace the flags he already put up, he is setting his sights on getting flags along other roads in Plum, which may require speaking with county or state officials and utility companies for approvals.
“He would love to see it along Golden Mile Highway,” Anna Nesbit said.
Schlegel hopes he can do it.
“If anybody can do it, he’s going to do it,” the mayor said. “That young man’s very determined.”