Connellsville group working to create memorial honor roll with names
Pictured is a sign located along Route 119 entering into the city of Connellsville. A community group is working to create and determine the location of a memorial honor roll for Connellsville veterans.
Keller
A community group would like to create a memorial honor roll for Connellsville area residents who gave the ultimate sacrifice during war.
The Connellsville Veterans Memorial Honor Roll Committee is a group of volunteers who are exploring the possibility of building a memorial honor roll with names of residents from within the Connellsville Area School District who died while in uniform during wartime.
“People have talked about the need for an honor roll for many years,” said Judy Keller, a committee member who taught social studies at Connellsville Area High School for 30 years and served in city government for 17 years.
Connellsville currently has a memorial on the corner of Route 119 and Pittsburgh Street that was dedicated in 1958 to veterans of all wars. The memorial was presented by the Connellsville Sesquicentennial Celebration Association.
But the committee would like to build a memorial honor roll that recognizes servicemen and servicewomen who died during war by name.
“These names had a life. They didn’t get to come home to their families. They didn’t get to fulfill their dreams. They didn’t get to walk their daughters down the aisle,” said Keller. “They should not be forgotten.”
Some people have advocated building an honor roll with names of all who served.
“We’re not trying to minimize the contributions and sacrifices that all veterans have made whether they’re serving in peacetime or wartime,” said Keller. “But we’re starting with those who died during war.”
No tax dollars will be used for the memorial honor roll. The all-volunteer project will rely on donations but no funds are being collected at this time as planning is still taking place.
The seven-member committee, which includes three veterans, formed last year and is studying possible sites.
“There are a lot of variables involved,” said Keller. “It needs to be in a location where it can be easily viewed by people and accessible and safe. We’re looking at several locations.”
Extensive research has been done and is continuing to create a list of names. The fallen include not only those who died from combat wounds but any who died while at war, such as in a training accident. Keller noted many soldiers died during WWI from a worldwide influenza epidemic.
But the committee would like to hear from descendants or friends of the fallen to insure they are not overlooked.
Those who want to contact the committee can send an email to kellerja@zoominternet.net.
A memorial honor roll would pay homage to those who died while defending their country.
“They need to be remembered,” said Keller, “and respected.”