Applications are now being accepted for the second full cycle of the Hometown Heroes banner program, an initiative organized by NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania as part of the West Scranton Neighborhood Plan. The Hometown Heroes program seeks to honor current and former members of the U.S military who have a connection to West Scranton. Banners will be hung along both Main Avenue, as well as Luzerne Street, in the Spring of 2026.
Family members wishing to honor a loved one for their military service can obtain an application by vising www.nwnepa.org, or by visiting the NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania office at 815 Smith Street, Scranton, PA 18504. Applications will be accepted on Tuesday and Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. To complete an application, family members must submit a paper copy of the application form to the office, and also provide a photo of the veteran in military uniform, as well as proof of honorable discharge (a DD Form 214 is preferred.) A cost of $250 per banner is assessed for printing and hanging; a check or money order for the full amount (payable to NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania) must accompany each application at time of submission.
Banners will be available on a first- come, first-serve basis, and will be available until all spots are filled. All existing banners will be replaced by banners from the current round of applications; families of veterans honored on existing banners can retrieve their banners by contacting the NeighborWorks office.
The Hometown Heroes banner program was initiated in West Scranton by a project group from the Leadership Lackawanna Core Program Class of 2021, who organized an initial run of 30 banners. A second run of more than 100 banners was hung in the spring of 2022.
Anyone interested in participating in the Hometown Heroes program is asked to contact Gerard Hetman, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Community Development Specialist, at (570) 558-2490 or ghetman@nwnepa.org.
