Students, city officials plant flowers at memorial
CONNELLSVILLE – Spring has sprung and so have the beautiful flowers at the Connellsville War Memorial with a little help from friends. Second-grade students from Zachariah Connell Elementary School along with eight Jr. High West National Honor Society students and a couple of city officials Tuesday planted more than 2,000 plants.
Located at the intersection of Memorial Boulevard and Pittsburgh Street, City Councilman Bruce Jaynes said various red, white and blue plants were carefully placed into the ground.
“I need to thank street department foreman Vernon Ohler and his crew for putting in the irrigation system,” said Jaynes. “We had a pretty good day until the rain came at about noon.”
Jaynes said there are still flowers that need to be planted, but to the naked eye it looks like the job has been completed. “Anyone passing buy will probably think that we are done, but we only got about 75 to 80 percent finished before the rain drove us out,” said Jaynes.
“We still have to spread the mulch and we have about 25 plants to get into the ground yet,” he continued. “Me and a couple of other people will probably go back within the next couple of days to finish the job.”
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) initiated the program five years ago, and each year the agency donates the flowers and assists with the planting. Jaynes said McDonald’s provided lunch for those assisting with the project.
Jaynes additionally said that the project is a “big plus for the community.” He also admitted that this was his first year working on the project. “Next year, I would like to contact more volunteer organization to see if they would like to be involved,” said Jaynes.
“I know that American Legion has helped in the past, so we’re going to see if they would like to help out again.”
Jaynes said the students came armed with shovels and rakes, and were ready to get their hands dirty. “I have to say that the kids were very well organized, and the teachers and students who were involved did a nice job. They were efficient. It was an overall good day until we got rained out.”
Jaynes said that the people of Connellsville, in addition to people passing the local landmark on Route 119 often, say how well maintained the war memorial is. “Everyone really seems to appreciate it,” said Jaynes.
“It’s a tribute to all veterans, and it has been a privilege to have worked on it.”