SCRANTON — Members of an American Legion in the Minooka section of Scranton will take care of the graves of the many veterans buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Davis Street.
American Legion Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., received a $16,000 grant from the city of Scranton to restore stones and markers in the graveyard and upgrade equipment in the post canteen. It’s the first time the post is taking on such a project in the cemetery and it’s going to be lot of work — and it would not be possible without the city grant, post Commander Jerry McLane said.
“It would be a struggle. I don’t think without the grant we’d be able to do the cemetery,” McLane said. “We’re in the process of identifying how many graves of veterans are there.”
The post in Minooka and seven other organizations received grants totaling $100,000 from the city in this budget year, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti said during an announcement Monday at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School. She credited Scranton City Council for helping ensure the veterans’ grant funding gets allocated in the city budget annually.
Cognetti also cited the broad partnership that resulted in the memorial park to honor the hundreds of Scranton veterans who died in wars.
“It started with an idea, to make sure we had a monument right here in Scranton, and then the foresight to do it here on the school district campus is so important because it helps make sure that the kids understand, the kids have exposure” to the sacrifices of military members, she said.
The memorial park again received a $5,000 grant for replacing flags at the site and maintenance.
Pointing to the wall of names of military members who died in service, Pat Ahern, the chairman of Scranton Veterans Memorial Park, said during the announcement event, “This is why we’re here. That’s the only purpose behind this park, to honor those who gave their all and remember them forever.”
At St. Joseph’s Cemetery, a glance at some graves reveals that many veterans did not die in wars. Mapping of plots there doesn’t necessarily have all of the older graves of veterans marked, McLane said. Many graves from the two world wars are marked, but some don’t have headstones. And some of the aging stones have names and dates worn away from years of exposure to the elements. Many of the stones are tipping and need some leveling and TLC. Some graves there predate World War I.
“We go out in the cemetery and identify graves. Some of them are sunken, some of them, especially WWI, and there’s even a Spanish-American (War) one there, then they’re faded and you can’t really make it out,” McLane said. “So we’re just trying to bring them back to more presentable, not sunken into the ground with weeds growing over.”
The city accepted grant applications in March and April. Following an internal review, funds were awarded to the following:
• Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA (ACE), 123 Wyoming Ave., $7,500 to assist veterans with gaining and retaining employment by providing rides to employment- and medical-related services.
• American Legion Post 568, 2929 Birney Ave., $16,000 to restore the gravestones and markers of veterans from World War I and World War II and to upgrade equipment in the post canteen.
• Bread Basket of NEPA, 550 Madison Ave., $7,500 to assist veterans with food, household items, toiletries and more.
• Fight4Vets, 711 Taylor Ave., $16,000 to provide financial assistance to Scranton veterans at risk of housing instability or homelessness.
• Scranton Veterans Memorial Park, located at Scranton High School, 63 Mike Munchak Way, $5,000 for the replacement of flags representing each branch of the armed forces and continued site maintenance.
• UKAVETS, 237 Railroad Ave., $16,000 for the renovation of existing facilities to improve functionality, safety and accessibility for veterans and community members.
• Valhalla Veterans Services, 2754 Jackson St., $16,000 to expand access to services provided through Valhalla’s Hope, strengthening coordination with local providers and ensuring veterans have improved access to timely, lifesaving care.
• Warrior Strong, 311 Adams Ave., $16,000 to assist funding for the program directory and wellness instructor and for additional operating expenses.
Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
A plaque at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
A plaque at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Davis Street in the Minooka section of Scranton on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Davis Street in the Minooka section of Scranton on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Graves of veterans at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Davis Street in the Minooka section of Scranton on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Graves of veterans at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Davis Street in the Minooka section of Scranton on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Graves of veterans at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Davis Street in the Minooka section of Scranton on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
A grave of a veteran at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Davis Street in the Minooka section of Scranton on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
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Scranton Veterans Memorial Park at Scranton High School on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Pat Ahern speaks prior to Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti announcing the veteran organizations receiving grants on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti announces the recipients of veteran grants at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti announces the recipients of veteran grants at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Pat Ahern speaks prior to Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti announcing the veteran organizations receiving grants on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti announces the recipients of veteran grants at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Attendees chat at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park after mayor Paige Cognetti’s remarks on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti announces the recipients of veteran grants at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti and recipients of veterans grants at Scranton Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Pat Ahern speaks prior to Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti announcing the veteran organizations receiving grants on Monday, July 20, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)