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STATE COLLEGE -- Penn State University and the Downtown State College Improvement District are once again partnering to recognize veterans and active-duty service members through a Military Appreciation Month banner program.
The annual initiative will allow families and friends to honor military members with personalized banners that will be displayed on lamp posts throughout downtown State College during November in recognition of Military Appreciation Month.
The banners are scheduled to be installed in late October and will remain on display throughout November in both 2026 and 2027 before being presented to the families who purchased them.
Organizers said proceeds from the $350 banners will support the Penn State Military Student Fund scholarship program, which provides assistance to active-duty service members, veterans and their dependents pursuing an education at Penn State.
"We are honored to continue this meaningful tradition of recognizing our local heroes while supporting service members as they pursue their education and build their futures at Penn State," said Lee Anne Jeffries, executive director of the Downtown State College Improvement District.
According to Eugene McFeely, chair of Penn State's Military Appreciation Committee, this marks the fourth year the committee has partnered with the Downtown State College Improvement District on the banner program.
"The veteran banner tradition is profound and shows the community's support of those who have sacrificed so much in service of our nation and makes me proud to be part of this community," McFeely said.
Community members interested in honoring a veteran or active-duty service member may purchase a banner through Aug. 31. Each banner serves as a personalized tribute while helping fund scholarships for military-affiliated students at Penn State.
For more information about the program, contact the Downtown State College Improvement District at (814) 238-7004 or downtown@downtownstatecollege.com.