NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (RVO) by Leroy Tabler – Building on the success of the “Hometown Heroes” banner project launched two years ago, a core of American Legion members and others in the Redbank Valley area have “put money where their heart is” by purchasing a parcel of property for the development of a veterans memorial park, promoters of the venture have announced.

RAY ISHMAN, who is spearheading the drive to develop a Redbank Valley veterans memorial park in New Bethlehem, displays a model of the park he envisioned and designed for the project. Ishman, a retired Air Force veteran, has undertaken leading the campaign after successfully leading the “Hometown Heroes” banner project in the community the past two years. In the foreground is a granite paver or brick of the type that will be sold with the name of a veteran and his/her rank, period of service, etc., engraved into pavers, and placed into the walkways of the part. This particular paver contains the name of Ishman’s wife, Lee Ann, also an Air Force veteran.

And they are inviting area veterans and their families to help make it all possible by participating in the fund-raising effort to make it all happen.

Noting that the Redbank Valley area– defined by the boundaries of the municipalities that comprise the local school district–is one of the few communities in Clarion or Armstrong counties that does not have a park paying tribute to military veterans. The promoters have unveiled plans they hope will be as well received as the Hometown Heroes banner project..

Model of the proposed Veteran’s Memorial

The ad hoc committee that got the plans underway in late 2018 has optimism about the plans to offer area veterans who now live, or have lived, within the school district boundaries, to become a part of the new memorial park that will pay tribute to men and women who have honorably served in military uniform in war or peacetime.  To help get the ball rolling, the leaders of the movement sought and received major financial support from the Walter W. Craig Post 354 of the American Legion, and the Russell J. Hilliard Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars also helped jump-start the financial campaign.

The  $25,000 seed money for the project came from the Legion for the acquisition of a parcel of property located between the former Keck Building–now known as Town Center–and Wood Street (Route 66).  Now the committee is seeking to build financial support through selling concrete pavers or bricks into which can be engraved the names of present or former area veterans These pavers will be placed in the ground around the larger granite monuments to be placed in the park.

Ray Ishman, the Legion Post’s service officer and the coordinator for the Hometown Heroes banner project, is also the spark plug for the veterans memorial park, according to Post Commander Don Jeffers.

In  last year’s placement  of the Hometown Heroes 2×3-foot colored banners on utility company poles in the community,  there were photos of nearly 300 veterans. For the 2019 display season that will run from before Memorial Day through Veterans Day,  Ishman anticipates 50 to 75 additional banners will be displayed, based on inquiries he has received.

Hometown Heroes – New Bethlehem PA *Photo courtesy of TechReady Professionals & RedbankValley.org

“These banners serve as a reminder to all who drive through the two boroughs (New Bethlehem and South Bethlehem) of our many veterans who stepped forward and took the oaths to be prepared to pay whatever costs might be required of them to serve under our Stars and Stripes,” Ishman said. Veterans’ photos shown covered  the period of the Civil War era–including one Medal of Honor winner, Capt. Jeremiah Zachariah Brown–through the current period of our history, he added.

“Although these banners look great, they are a temporary tribute,” he noted.” Over a period of  several years of being exposed to the weather, including the heat and intense effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, the banners are expected to be gradually be diminished in color.”  The inscribed granite bricks should last for decades or longer, Ishman said, noting that pavers like these are commonly used in such projects.

To be located on the site of the former Cherry Chip Lounge, once owned by Kenneth (Red) Bowser,  the project spokesman said, will require the infusion of a considerable amount money, “and that is where the pavers,  the park and the public come together. Families of veterans from the Redbank Valley will be able to share in the development of the park by purchasing one of the inscribed bricks.  On a brick will be entered the name of a veteran, his or her branch of service, rank and period of service. Each line on the brick can contain no more than 20 letters, numbers or spaces.

He emphasized that participation in purchase of an inscribed brick is open to former service personnel, regardless of whether it was during a period of war or during peacetime.  “To be eligible, they just to have been from within the designated school district boundaries and to have served and received an honorable discharge from that service.”

The pavers will be installed  as they are received by the post  from the manufacturer, The ordering individuals will be notified where and when to pick them up  when received and then stored by the ordering party until contacted about placement. “The pavers will be installed once the initial layout is complete.  Additional pavers will be added semi-annually after the initial round of installation.”

Engraved blocks of granite depicting the five basic branches of service–Army. Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard–will be  placed in the park, as will other markers and various shrubs or decorative plants to accent the grounds. Four-by-eight-foot slabs of granite, depicting the wars in U.S. history, will be prominently placed in the park.

Persons who wish to purchase a paver can fill out a registration form which can be obtained at one of the banks in New Bethlehem or at the Redbank Valley Library.  Completed order forms, along with a $100 check made out to the American Legion, may be mailed to the American Legion, Veterans Memorial Park, P.O Box 244, New Bethlehem, PA, 16242. A registration form and check may also be given to Legion personnel  on duty at the local library on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 4 and 7 p.m.

“We also welcome any private donations from the public for the new park,:” Ishman said, noting donations can be sent to the address listed above. “Your donations will help make this a park the entire community will be proud of, and we will be providing a lasting memorial to the men and women from this area who have served  in the military of our country throughout our history.”