CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Volunteers sought for Harrison war memorial committee

Valley News-Dispatch - 4/23/2019

April 23-- Apr. 23--Anyone interested in helping restore Harrison's crumbling Honor Roll war memorial is being asked to attend an upcoming meeting.

A committee is being formed to address the condition of the memorial, prominently located at the intersection of Freeport and Springhill roads.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 at the township building.

A handful of people are already on it, including District Judge Carolyn Bengel. But she agrees with Commissioner William Poston's suggestion that a veteran should lead it.

Poston, himself an Air Force veteran, also wants to get the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion involved.

Bengel said anyone interested in helping is welcome to attend, whether they live in Harrison or not.

"I think we want to get started," she said.

Officials have said they'd like to get the memorial repaired in time for the township's 225th anniversary, which is next year.

It's not known what needs to be done to restore the sandstone memorial, what can be done, or if it's even practical. Poston said some who have examined the 74-year-old memorial say it's in such bad shape that the township would be better off tearing it down and starting over.

Bengel said they're looking for as many people interested in helping as they can find.

"The more the better," she said. "We want to start the process and figure out what we need to do."

The memorial was dedicated on Oct. 29, 1945, and turned over to the township on May 24, 1965.

Names of World War II veterans are fading from the memorial, which is coming apart in chunks. It's stained and cracked.

Moving the memorial to another location has been suggested, in part so it would be easier for people to get to.

But some favor keeping it in a prominent location; Poston says it should be where it is, in the center of town.

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or via Twitter .

___

(c)2019 The Valley News-Dispatch (Tarentum, Pa.)

Visit The Valley News-Dispatch (Tarentum, Pa.) at www.triblive.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.