In April, the Amos Herr House Foundation commenced the Hometown Heroes Project. Through the project, the foundation began placing banners on utility poles throughout Landisville to honor residents of the Hempfield area who have served in the military. Each banner is customized with the name and picture of a local veteran, and the Amos Herr House Foundation will continue the project by accepting orders for customized banners.

The idea for the project was conceived by Ron Cooper, a board member for the Amos Herr House Foundation. After driving through several neighboring towns, Cooper noticed that many of them displayed banners to pay tribute to local veterans. Upon realizing that Landisville had yet to implement a similar project, Cooper approached the other board members of the foundation to suggest one. The rest of the board agreed that Landisville should have its own way to pay its veterans homage, especially since it aligned with the foundation's mission to preserve the history of the area.

"Service to your country was important to Amos Herr," said Jessie Long, one of the foundation's board directors. "He was a patriot, and this is something he would approve of. The biggest aspect is honoring these people and drawing the community together in appreciation."

After the board approved the Hometown Heroes Project, Cooper researched companies that sell banners and enlisted volunteers to assist with the installation process. Orders for banners began to come in from the community and the first banner, memorializing Air Force veteran Donald W. Dempster, was placed in April.

"I was thrilled to be able to have my father's banner hung," Long said. "Many of us have family who served. Having a banner there to remember these people is so important." Long's father, Harry H. Hoffman, worked as a medical doctor in Landisville for over 50 years after he served in the military. To commemorate him, a banner was placed on Main Street in Landisville at the same location where he began his medical practice. "Many people might not have realized he served in the military," Long added. "Just seeing his picture as a young man who served in (WWII) is gratifying."

For more information or to order a customized banner, visit http://www.herrhomestead.org and look under Homestead. Applications for a banner are also available at R.H. Cooper & Son Garage, 115 W. Main St., Salunga.