Monument to fallen firefighters dedicated
Former Fire Chief Lewis Williams and city firefighter Voight LaClair died while serving their community. And on Sunday, more than 90 years after their deaths, the community came together to honor the two fallen firemen at the dedication of the Uniontown Firemen’s Memorial, located at the intersection of Pittsburgh Street and North Mount Vernon Avenue.
The Rev. Peter A. Malik, who petitioned Uniontown City Council for permission to erect a firemen’s memorial in 2002, said the memorial is meant to honor “all firefighters living and deceased who have served the city of Uniontown since 1798,” while paying special attention to the only two firemen in the city’s history to lose their lives in the line of duty.
Lewis died Oct. 9, 1901, of a heart attack suffered while returning from the city’s third fire of that day. LaClair died while fighting a fire at the old McClelland House Hotel on West Main Street on March 23, 1914.
Dressed in full regalia complete with white gloves, current members of the Uniontown Fire Department attended the dedication ceremony, standing at attention as Chief Myron Nypaver, Assistant Chief Chuck Coldren and Lt. Mark Lovey placed a black wreath at the base of the monument.
“Chief Williams died over a century ago, and Voight LaClair 92 years ago. The fire department is glad that these two men’s sacrifices will not be forgotten,” Nypaver said.
Also attending the dedication ceremony was LaClair’s nephew, Uniontown fireman Bill Reinhard.
“LaClair was my great, great uncle,” Reinhard said. “It was special to me to be here, to finally see the finished memorial.”
Malik said the memorial would not have happened if not for the support of several people and local businesses. He especially thanked Frank Mulich Jr. of Marshall’s Monuments in Uniontown who commissioned the 6-foot granite statue of a fireman kneeling in prayer.
Mulich also engraved the three granite plaques on the front of the monument. Two of the plaques show pictures of Williams and LaClair and tell how they gave their lives.
Three Uniontown High School Bible Club students were the first to commit to raising money for the memorial. Malik said Steve Lint, Sasha Renninger and Zack Wilson were trying to figure out how to raise money for the statue when Coldren suggested a campaign to sell memorial bricks.
Malik said Coldren also got Boy Scouts Connor Shrum and Clay Swenglish of Troop 602 involved in the project. Both boys made the memorial part of their Eagle Scout projects.
“It’s gratifying to see the memorial finished,” Wilson said. “We had to overcome some obstacles along the way.”
Nypaver said the memorial “honors all firefighters” and that it’s great to have a place where firefighters and their families can gather.
“When this place is done, it’s going to be beautiful,” he said, noting that there’s still some work to be done.
Memorial bricks for the area surrounding the memorial are still available and can be purchased by calling the fire department at 724-438-6900.
Malik said it’s important Williams and LaClair are never forgotten.
Every time people drive past the memorial, Malik said he hopes they recognize the importance and bravery off all firefighters, both past and present.
“Firefighters put their lives on the line every time the siren goes off,” he said. “The danger is never too great for them. They’re always there to protect our community. Their service is invaluable.”
Malik thanked all the firefighters at the dedication for choosing to do the job they do.
“All of you,” he said, “are willing to risk your lives everyday for us. May we never have to add another name to this monument. Thank you for what you do.”