Northampton Mayor Anthony Pristash has been passionate about leading the Hometown Heroes project that seeks to honor the veterans that lived in Northampton Borough.

“I wanted to do something as mayor and have an impactful project to start with,” Pristash said. “My vision was to bring a little more humanity to our hometown heroes, other than just the picture on the banner. As the project grew, so did my intentions to make more of it.”

Pristash recruited a team of students from Northampton Area High School to help roll out the next stages of the project. By volunteering to collect information about each veteran from their family, they hope to share more than just a picture with the surrounding community.

Facebook and Instagram pages were started to share personal information about each veteran that otherwise wouldn’t be available on the banners.

Some students participating in the initiative share the connection of familial ties to the military. Others believe the hometown veterans deserve to be honored and have their stories shared.

Mason Smolenak, a junior at NAHS and junior borough council member, spoke about why he got involved with the project.

“I was very interested in the banners around town, and I wanted people to get to know more about veterans and people that have been willing to sacrifice their lives for our country,” Mason said.

His goal is to follow in the footsteps of the veterans he honors today by enrolling in the Air Force Academy.

Hannah Malseed also found connection with the project.

“I learned about D-Day in our history class,” she said, “and that same day, we spoke to the family of a veteran who served during World War II on D-Day. That’s stuck with me since hearing that story.”

“We spoke to a hero’s daughter and, as she would hang clothes on their clothesline outside, he would fly over their house and tip the plane wing to tell her he was there,” Ashley Laub said, in sharing her favorite story. “It was reassuring for her. It was so special to hear that.”

Students like Cameron Coccetti found solace in knowing veteran families could find support within their communities.

“It’s cool to hear all the stories about how many families are still in Northampton and how they all had businesses here,” Cameron said. “Everyone in town knew these families, supported them and continues to support them.”

Advisers for the club and NAHS teachers Becky Wagner and Gretchen Troxell both put the project into perspective, saying, “It’s a really special moment, especially for the younger generation, to connect with history. I don’t think they realize they’re in the same age bracket as the veterans when they signed up for service.”

Additional banners are available for purchase through April 26.

Anyone interested in submitting an application can use the link on the Northampton Borough website, northamptonboro.com, or apply in person at the borough office, 1401 Laubach Ave.

Once an application and payment are received, students will reach out to learn more about the veteran. A post will then be made on the Northampton Hometown Heroes social media sites. Coordinates for the exact location of the physical banner will be distributed to ensure everyone can locate their loved ones with precision.