EXETER, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — A ceremony was held in Exeter on Thursday to celebrate an Eagle Scout project that installed 54 American flags on Wyoming Avenue in time for America’s 250th anniversary.
The celebration, led by Mayor Denise Adams inside the Exeter Borough Building, formally recognized Connor Pribula, an Eagle Scout candidate with Exeter Troop 311, two days after he completed the project.
Pribula said the project was inspired by his family’s history of military service. His grandfather, Joseph Pribula, and great-uncles, Thomas and Leonard Pribula, served in World War II.
“Over the years, I’ve noticed that the flags would get tangled up in the poles or the wires, and they would get torn up and look disrespectful to the flag and what it stands for. So, my goal was to replace them so they could stand proudly and not be damaged. Having the flags look presentable and clean along the street really shows the pride that our community and our country has,” Pribula said.
The project included raising money and purchasing materials for new flag assemblies along the borough’s main corridor, with the flags visible from near Turkey Hill to past Sabatini’s Pizza. Each assembly included a holder, a seven-foot stainless steel pole and an American flag, with the project receiving more than $4,300 in donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals.
Several officials gave remarks during the ceremony, including U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, state Sen. Lisa Baker and state Reps. Brenda Pugh, Jim Haddock and Alec Ryncavage.
The ceremony also included a prayer from Father Michael Drevitch and a closing performance of “God Bless America” by Cassidy Graham.
For Pribula, the finished project marked both a tribute to veterans and another step toward earning the rank of Eagle Scout.