Marker honors Jefferson County WWII veterans

A monument was added to the Veterans’ Park in Brookville on Friday.

The monument honors Jefferson County residents who were either killed or missing in action during World War II.

The black granite stone had the names of 173 men carved into its face. The black granite complemented the existing markers erected to recognize those who served during World War I.

The Brookville Laurel Board, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in Jefferson County presented the concept to the Jefferson County commissioners, who funded the project through the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund.

State Sen. Joe Scarnati recalled a visit to Normandy, France, several years ago. He recalled seeing the cemeteries, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach and the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc where young Americans came ashore on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

“One of the questions that was asked was how did we ever overcome the great odds of this assault,” Scarnati said. “The answer was simple – leadership. Leadership from General (Dwight) Eisenhower right down to the sergeants. The bravery, dedication, perseverance, sacrifice, of these young men and women is almost breathtaking.

“These monuments are certainly a necessary part so that we don’t forget and future generations don’t forget the sacrifices that our men and women have made,” Scarnati said. “Let us not forget and let us thank them for their service.”

“We are here today to dedicate a memorial to soldiers and sailors who died defending our country and the struggle against dictatorships that tried to destroy us in World War II,” said Ira Minor, a retired U.S. Army warrant officer. “Here outside the walls of this courthouse a new monument has been erected in their honor. The names are there, all 173 of them. These are the men of Jefferson County. They were farmers, mill hands, miners and shop clerks.”

“They may not ever have left the area but the one thing they did possess was a love of country,” said Minor. “Many joined the armed forces even before they were drafted. They came in twos and threes. They trained at Fort Dix, Fort Hood, they trained for an overseas war that was calling them.”

Some of them never came back. They were missed by their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. Their names should be memorialized and should mean more than a simple incision on a stone. These men should not be forgotten,” he said.

Also speaking were State Rep. Cris Dush, American Legion Post 102 commander William Littlefield, Brookville Borough council member Karen Allgeier and Jefferson County Commissioner Herb Bullers.

The Brookville Honor Guard presented a rifle salute and Taps.

A second marker will be erected for Jefferson county residents who died during the Korean and Vietnam wars, then a third marker will be erected for those killed in action in the Gulf War, Afghanistan and during the Cold War.