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Honoring Hometown Heroes

LUZERNE — Chase Santayana spends the first day of the weekend hustling to make a special day a little more patriotic. He’s selling flags, and honori...
LUZ MD SERVICE

LUZERNE -- Chase Santayana spends the first day of the weekend hustling to make a special day a little more patriotic.

He's selling flags, and honoring his grandfather Joseph Stravinsky and his great uncle Benjamin Stravinsky, two veterans whose pictures now hang on banners in Luzerne Borough as hometown heroes.

“I think that would make them very happy and very proud,” said Susan Stravinsky Santayana of Luzerne County.

Chase's mother Susan says there's pride in Luzerne Borough on the weekend to honor those who died in American wars.

At a ceremony at the borough's center, a small crowd remembered two young men from Luzerne Borough killed when fighting in Vietnam.

They also paid tribute to people like Michael Napkori of Luzerne County.

Napkori was lucky enough to return home twice after serving in both World War II and the Korean War. He now lives in Mountain Top.

“It's an honor to be called back over here,” said Napkori, a navy veteran.

“All those 36 men are up on those flags, and they just represent everybody,” said Susanne Napkori-Smith of Mountain Top.

Those at the ceremony in Luzerne Borough felt the patriotism, with kids representing hope for the future and by honoring the hometown heroes of the past.

Susan Stravinsky Santayana was proud to watch her son sell American flags near the banners of her dad and uncle, the Stravinsky brothers.

Her father joseph is buried in the borough.

He lived most of his life here after returning from the Korean War.

“It was very touching to see him there because he passed away in October, so yeah, it was very special,” added Stravinsky Santayana.

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