SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP HOMETOWN HEROES PROGRAM

2025 Program

The South Whitehall Township Hometown Heroes Banner Program is intended to serve as a living tribute created for the community to honor those members who have served as Veterans of the United States Armed Services (including all Branches). Each banner honors a specific South Whitehall Township service member who has a current or former connection to South Whitehall Township.

To qualify, a Veteran, either living or deceased, must have lived in South Whitehall Township at some point in their life and have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces.

Registration opens on November 8, 2024 for the South Whitehall Township Hometown Heroes Banner Program. Applications for banners will be accepted through March 7, 2025. New Banners will be installed in the Spring of 2025 in advance of Memorial Day (Monday, May 26, 2025).

The banner features the service member’s name, rank, and title, branch of armed service, era of service or war served (ex. WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Vietnam Era, Global War on Terror, etc.), service dates, prestigious medals, photo, and a “sponsored by” section to include the sponsor’s name. The banner will measure 24” x 48”, printed on both sides on heavy-duty vinyl.

For this round of the Program, banners will be displayed on Township-owned lamp poles at the South Whitehall Township Municipal Building, which is located at 4444 Walbert Avenue, Allentown, PA 18104. There are currently twelve (12) banner pole locations available for the 2025 program.

Banners will be displayed for at least a two (2) year period. The Township will assess the condition of the banners and determine when banners should be replaced. Removed banners are offered to the sponsors as a keepsake. If a sponsor does not collect the banner, it will become the property of the Township. *

Banner displays are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be available until all available spots are filled. The selection of the pole on which the banner will be placed is at the discretion of the Township.

*Current sponsors will be invited to register for a new banner once the Township determines, in its sole discretion, that the individual current banner display is weathered and in need of replacement. The Township is not responsible for replacing banners that are stolen, damaged, or destroyed due to vandalism or any acts of nature including high winds. Any loss or damage to an installed banner will be handled at the discretion of the Township.

REGISTER FOR A HOMETOWN HERO BANNER

Applications for 2025 are available now and submissions will be accepted from November 8, 2024, through March 7, 2025. The Hometown Banners will be installed on or before Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 26^th. The banners will be displayed from Memorial Day through to Veterans Day in observance of all Military Branch establishment dates. Banners will be removed and stored until the same period in the following year at which time they will be displayed again in the same manner.  

APPLICATION

Family members wishing to honor a loved one for their military service can obtain an application on the Township website by clicking on this link.

Printed applications are also available at the South Whitehall Township Municipal Building at 4444 Walbert Avenue, Allentown, PA 18104. The Administrative Offices are open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

To complete the application process, sponsors must submit the following:

• A completed and signed application form.
• A photograph of the veteran in uniform, preferably a service portrait (5”x7” or larger, if possible).
• A copy of military separation paperwork or certificate (a DD214 form is preferred).

Completed applications may be submitted in three ways:

• Hand-delivered to the front desk at the Township Municipal Building.
• Emailed to info@southwhitehall.com
• Mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to:

South Whitehall Township Hometown Heroes
4444 Walbert Avenue

Allentown, PA 18104

Applications for 2025 installation will be accepted starting on November 8, 2024 and will continue through March 7, 2025.

PHOTO OF VETERAN

A photograph of the veteran in uniform, preferably a service portrait should accompany the application, either digitally or in print. (5”x7” or larger, if possible).

Printed photos will be scanned at the Township Municipal Offices and returned immediately to the sponsor.

If no photo is available, a standard military branch silhouette will be used for the banner.

COST

A cost of $200 per banner is assessed and a check or money order for the full amount (payable to South Whitehall Township) must be paid to the Township at the time that the Township notifies the applicant that their application is approved.

For more information about the South Whitehall Township Hometown Heroes program, sponsors are asked to contact the Administration Office at 610-398-0401 or email info@southwhitehall.com.