Programs
Hometown Heroes Banner Program
The Township of Scotch Plains, the Borough of Fanwood, American Legion Post 209 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10122, is opening up the Banner Program once more seeking to honor our local Veterans and those currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. The Banner Program will continue to recognize those Veterans (living and deceased) and Active Duty Military personnel who live or have lived in Scotch Plains or Fanwood. Banners for those who were a part of previous phases will continue to be put up each Memorial and Veterans Day.
Please note that we cannot honor any requests to place a banner in a particular location.
Eligibility Requirements
Individuals are eligible to participate if they are serving or have served in any one of the following branches of the United States Armed Forces:
- Air Force
- Army
- Coast Guard
- Marines
- Navy
- Merchant Marines
- Women Airforce Service Pilots (World War II)
APPLICANTS MUST ALSO MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
- Are active duty, retired, honorably discharged or killed in action. Deceased individuals may be honored by their families. Submit a copy of the individual’s “DD Form 214” (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other official documentation confirming the individual’s military service.
- Are current or former residents of Scotch Plains or Fanwood.
The Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood reserve the right to remove a banner for any reason.
All applications must be completed online no later than September 22nd, 2024.
Cost to Participate
The fee for a banner is $150.00 in order to cover the costs of the banner and bracket. If you have a hardship and cannot afford the fee, please contact Elaine Coupe as we do not want to turn away any Veteran. Please submit a check made payable to SP Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fun and mail to SPF Hometown Heroes, PO Box 627, Scotch Plains, New Jersey 07076. Please put the name of the Banner Veteran in the memo line. PLEASE NOTE THAT AN APPLICATION IS NOT CONSIDERED COMPLETE UNTIL THE CHECK IS RECEIVED OR YOU HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ELAINE ABOUT PAYMENT.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE AND ARE DUE NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2024.
For more information, contact Elaine Coupe at (908) 472-6096 or by email at
To Apply - Please go to:
Fallen Heroes Street Dedication Program
The genesis of the town's Fallen Heroes - Gold Star Families Street Dedication Program, occurred in 2019 and was a joint effort between the Towns Memorial Day Committee and American Legion Post 209, who identified 20 Scotch Plains Veterans that made the ultimate sacrifice and were killed or missing in action in various conflicts. Lawn signs bearing their portrait, name, rank, and conflict participated in were created for each of the 20 Fallen Heroes. Local Cub Scout Troop 53 volunteered to post each lawn sign at the street corner of the Fallen Heroes residence and make a short video recognizing and honoring each of the 20 Fallen Heroes. This collection of videos was posted to our town website for all residents to view.
The success of this effort to recognize our Fallen Heroes left us with the desire to do more in memorializing these 20 Fallen Heroes and their Gold Star Families. Thus, the Street Dedication program was born, beginning with the dedication of Sgt Barich on Veterans Day, November 2021.
