Downtown State College Military Banner Program Underway for 2026

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

Now in its fifth year, the banner program is a Military Appreciation Month partnership between the Downtown State College Improvement District and the Penn State Military Appreciation Committee.

“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,” Lee Anne Jeffries, DSCID executive director, said.

Community members can purchase a personalized banner for $350 until Aug. 31. A brief form for banner details and payment information is available here.

Banners will be installed on lampposts in downtown State College in late October and will be on display throughout November 2026 and November 2027 for Military Appreciation Month. They will then be given to families to keep after their display is completed.

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.

“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,” Eugene McFeely, Penn State Military Appreciation Committee chair, said.

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