Downtown State College Military Banner Program Underway for 2025

Families and friends will once again have the opportunity to honor the military heroes in their lives with banners that will be on display in downtown State College during Military Appreciation Month in November.

The Downtown State College Improvement District on July 1 launched the fourth year of the banner program in partnership with Penn State’s Military Appreciation Committee.

“This program continues to be an impactful way for our community to show appreciation for those who have selflessly served our nation,” Lee Anne Jeffries, DSCID executive director, said in a statement. “By honoring their service with these banners, we not only pay tribute to their sacrifices but also support the important work of the Penn State Military Student Fund.”

Community members can purchase a personalized banner for $350 until Aug. 29. A brief form for banner details and payment information are available here.

The banner program not only offers personalized tributes to those who have served the nation, but also supports active service members, veterans and their dependents through the Penn State Military Student Fund scholarship program, which will receive proceeds from the purchases.

Banners will be installed on lampposts in downtown State College in late October and will be on display throughout November 2025 and November 2026. Banners will then be given to families to keep after their display is completed.

“This is the fourth year Penn State’s Military Appreciation Committee has partnered with the DSCID to recognized local service members and veterans with banners in State College,” Eugene McFeely, Penn State Military Appreciation Committee chair, said in a statement. “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.”

For questions about the program, email downtown@downtownstatecollege.com.