Release – November 2025. Image © by Lonny Frost 2025.
MANSFIELD, PA – Over a decade has gone by since the Mansfield community first came together to honor its veterans by erecting Hometown Hero banners throughout town. Over time, however, the elements took their toll on these banners. Many of the banners became tattered and faded, no longer reflecting the respect and pride they were meant to convey.
Melissa Underwood, who stepped into the role of Chamber Director in 2022, recognized the need for action. “The majority of the banners were worn and weathered, which didn’t speak a message of respect to the veterans we were honoring,” said Underwood. “So, in June 2022, we made the difficult decision to remove them.”
Determined to bring the banners back, Underwood credits longtime Mansfield residents Melinda Jankowski and Lynn VanOrden for spearheading the revival. In January 2023, the two officially formed the Hometown Heroes Banner Organization, a nonprofit 501(c)(19) comprised of the Mansfield Memorial VFW Post 6757, the Auxiliary Post 6757, and the Austin Cox American Legion Post 478.
“We hope the community sees these fresh banners hung and it sparks a renewed interest in the project,” said VanOrden. The process for requesting a banner begins with an application, which is available by visiting mansfieldhometownheroes.com or by calling Lynn at 570-662-2300 or Melinda at 570-662-2398. For those replacing a previously displayed banner, the cost is donation-based only or pay-what-you-can. New banners are available for $150.
“I am proud to have been involved in establishing this organization and renewing our support for local veterans-especially right before Veterans Day. This is something special,” said Melinda Jankowski.
In a powerful show of community support, Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) and Tri-Co Connections (TCC) stepped in to help. On Friday, November 7th-just ahead of Veterans Day and Mansfield’s Home for the Holidays weekend-Tri-County REC and TCC crews hung 111 new banners throughout the community.
“Tri-County has been wonderful to work with and offered to support hanging 100% of the banners this year,” said VanOrden. “This is great, because we have a long line of community businesses who’ve raised their hands to help in the future. We’ll be calling on them to give everyone a chance to be part of this amazing and important project.
Tri-County REC’s involvement reflects its deep commitment to the cooperative principle of Concern for Community. “As a member-owned cooperative, we believe in giving back to the communities we serve,” said Michael Hanawalt, Director of Economic Development and Member Engagement. “Supporting the Hometown Heroes Banner Project is one way we can honor those who’ve served and help preserve their legacy for future generations.”
The newly hung banners now stand as a proud tribute to Mansfield’s veterans-and a testament to what can be accomplished when a community comes together.
About Tri-County REC and Tri-Co Connections
Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) (REC) is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility headquartered in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Since 1936, Tri-County REC has delivered safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to its members. Today, the cooperative serves more than 17,000 members across Bradford, Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, and Tioga counties, maintaining over 19,500 active accounts.
Tri-Co Connections, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tri-County REC, brings cutting-edge fiber-to-the-home internet service to rural communities with the same dedication to reliability and integrity that members have trusted for nearly 90 years. Since connecting its first subscriber in April 2020, Tri-Co Connections has grown to serve nearly 9,000 subscribers.
