Staff photo / Ed Runyan Jim Fortunato, a Vietnam veteran who serves as Mahoning County purchasing director, lower left, adds his name to the “Stand Together — A Veteran’s Flag” in the rotunda of the Mahoning County Courthouse. At right, Mahoning County commissioners Dave Ditzler and Anthony Traficanti add the names of their fathers. The flag was unveiled Thursday. It will remain in the rotunda until the new Veterans Service Commission office on Belmont Avenue is ready for occupancy sometime in 2025.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners and others unveiled the “Stand Together — A Veteran’s Flag” in the Mahoning County Courthouse rotunda Thursday and invited veterans to sign their names to the panels surrounding the piece.

It was created by veteran Joe Pesano of San Diego using drywall screws to create a 3D, waving flag.

It is one of four waving flags now on display across the United States, with others in Hawaii, Alaska and California.

Jennifer Baun, of Northeast Ohio Women Veterans, said this flag art will remain in the rotunda until the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission office on Belmont Avenue in Youngstown is ready for occupancy sometime in 2025.

Local veterans were invited to attend the unveiling. They gave details of their military service.

The project is directed by Veterans Standing Together Across America, a national organization that has made it a mission to honor veterans through art.

The artwork carries the signatures of veterans from locations where it has been displayed throughout Ohio. It was on display in August at the Canfield Fairgrounds.

The artwork was created using red, white and blue drywall screws at various depths to create the three-dimensional effect.