The latest round of the Hometown Heroes banner project will take place in Quarryville Borough this fall and winter.

The banners, which honor people who either are currently serving in the armed forces or have served the country, are updated every two years. People who are sponsoring a banner can renew, and new participants are also welcome. There is room for more than 100 banners, said borough resident Scott Peiffer, who has spearheaded the project along with his wife, Mary.

The banners are located on State, 4th, Hess, Church, and Lime streets; on Park Avenue; and in Townsedge Shopping Village. "If people have a request for a specific place, we will try to accommodate that," Scott said.

Anyone who has served in any branch of the Armed Forces is eligible to be represented on a banner. There is no residency requirement. There is a fee for the cost of the banner. Anyone who wants an application can email Scott at peiffer216@aol.com. Peiffer will need the servicemember's name, era and branch of service, as well as a photograph in uniform.

"I'd love to have some new ones, new folks," Scott said. "It's always neat to get new people."

The Peiffers partnered with the Quarryville Lions Club for the project after the local American Legion post disbanded. The project is not affiliated with Quarryville Borough, but Peiffer noted that borough officials continue to be supportive.

Any funds remaining after the purchase and installation of the banners goes to Lions Club projects that honor veterans in Memorial Park.

The Hometown Heroes banner program is particularly meaningful to the Peiffers. Scott's father, Gene, and Mary's father, Richard Myers, both served, and the Peiffers sponsor banners in their honor, which are located near their home.

Scott's mother, Doris, was first married to Quentin Newswanger, who was killed during the Korean conflict. Newswanger is also honored with a banner. Doris' brothers also served. "Mom always had this compassion toward veterans and servicemen," Scott said. "There's always been this awareness, and Mom instilled it in me that this was important and to understand the sacrifice. My mom could understand that because she lost her husband. She understood what it was like to lose somebody."

Scott learned about a Hometown Heroes banner project in New Holland and went up to investigate. "It seemed overwhelming, but we thought we would try it in Quarryville," he said.

Scott enjoys hearing the stories of the veterans and getting to know their family members. He has been invited to a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery and received a book about a local veteran. "I find it fascinating that I get to learn about people, and we get to experience a little bit of history through them telling me these things," he said.

Scott stated that the program has proven to be popular. "I've had people come back and say how nice it is to walk around and read about the veterans," he said. "Every now and then I'll see somebody have a younger child with him, and they stop and read. This is what this is about. That's what makes it worthwhile, to remind future generations of the people who made sacrifices for us."

Peiffer would like to have all applications completed by the middle of October and install the new banners in December.

"When I have all the information, I send all that to the banner company, and then they send proofs back to me," Peiffer said. "And then I look at all the proofs and make sure I spelled the names right and that the right name's with the right picture. Then I give them the go-ahead, and they do one printing."