From staff reports
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.
The Redbank Valley area – defined by the boundaries of the municipalities that comprise Redbank Valley 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 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.
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 along Route 66.
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.
The cost for an engraved brick is $100. People 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.
A representative from the American Legion post will be at the library between 4 and 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays to help people complete forms.