Dedication of Marshall statue set Friday
The downtown Uniontown statue of Fayette County native George C. Marshall will have a formal dedication on Friday. Charmaine Sampson, who worked to coordinate the dedication, said that Gen. Edward C. “Shy” Meyer will act as the keynote speaker at the event. The statue is of Marshall on his horse, “Applejack,” accompanied by his dog, “Fleet.”
It is located at the corner of Main and Pittsburgh Streets.
Sampson said the statue was funded by the Eberly Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Eberly, the Robert E. and Elouise R. Eberly Foundation and Charles Cluss.
Meyer, said Sampson, is the chairman of the board of the George C. Marshall Foundation in Arlington, Va.
The foundation’s website said its mission is to, “promote the values of selfless service, dedicated effort and strength of character exemplified by Marshall’s life and leadership in war and peace. …”
Marshall, born in Uniontown on Dec. 31, 1880, received accolades for the plan named after him. The Marshall plan helped Germany and Japan after they were devastated by World War II. The hope was that aiding the nations, rather than keeping them economically depressed, would prevent the rise of communist parties there.
The plan was also lauded for helping to establish close ties between Western Europe and the U.S. In a commencement speech at the time the plan was established, Marshall told a group of Harvard graduates such assistance by the U.S. was necessary to keep political stability and peace.
A press release announcing the dedication notes that Marshall’s address also rings true in the wake of Sept. 11.
Although the statue was unveiled in December, Sampson said bad weather kept them from a formal dedication.
With the promise of good weather next week, Sampson said she is hopeful for a good turnout.
“Mr. Eberly would really like to stress that he wants all the area’s veterans to come to this,” she said. “We’re hoping to have a street full of people. We’d just like to have all the veterans come down and wear their uniforms.”
Several organizations are already scheduled to appear at the dedication, said Sampson.
The VFW Post 47 National VFW Band under the direction of Augie Orlandi is providing the music. Retired Naval Chaplain William Solomon will handle the invocation and benediction, said Sampson.
The Amvets General George C. Marshall Post 103 in Hopwood will provide a color guard.
“We chose them because their post is named for General Marshall,” said Sampson.
An honor color guard will bring Major General Walter Pudlowski, formerly of Cardale and now of Harrisburg, back to the area. Pudlowski commands the Honor Color Guard by the Pennsylvania National Guard, said Sampson.
Sampson said invitations have been extended to each of the county’s estimated 55 military service clubs in hopes that members will attend.
The American Legion Post 51 will decorate the streets with flags for the day as well, said Sampson.
The statue itself is life-size plus a third, said Sampson, noting that the total bronze weight of the statue is 1,750 pounds.
The statue was build by Alan Cottrill, a Washington County sculptor. He also crafted the bronze statue of Eberly that sits on the campus of California University of Pennsylvania, said Sampson.