History behind memorial an interesting one
A quiet, reflective park that heralds the accomplishments of an American hero, the George C. Marshall Memorial Plaza is a fitting tribute to the Uniontown native who rose to international prominence and esteem. “It represents what we were trying to accomplish, memorializing the general so the world knows what a great life he led and showing his early years in Uniontown,’ said Charles C. Cluss, president of the Friends of Marshall, who created this memorial.
Local residents who are not familiar with the park, located at Five Corners Intersection along the National Road in Uniontown, may want to visit this tribute, which will be formally dedicated on Sunday by Prince Andrew of England.
“It’s something we never expected to happen,’ said Cluss, noting the prince is coming to the area because he is involved in a trade mission and program for the Marshall Scholarships. “We’re fortunate that he had an interest to come and see us and here we are, looking forward to the big day.’
The plaza acts as a gateway to the western part of Uniontown and is an impressive sight, particularly at night when the area around the World War I Doughboy is lighted. During the day, it is a heartwarming picture filled with trees and flowerbeds, particularly now that the plaza has been freshened for the dedication, including the planting of 300 mums by the Green Gardeners.
Initiated in 1997, the George C. Marshall Memorial Park consists of two parts. The first, referred to as Phase I, was finished in 1999, while final touches were added to the second part, called Phase II, in time for the holidays last year.
The main section is a triangular piece of land that is located between Main and Fayette streets and is on the other side of Main Street from the site of Marshall’s boyhood home, which is the site of the present-day Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 47.
This piece includes a walkway that begins at the point closest to Marshall’s home. The walk goes over a bridge that crosses Coal Lick Run creek and continues as visitors come upon five large stars engraved in the walkway, symbolic of Marshall’s distinction as a five-star general.
The walkway flows into a wider area that holds three rows of flags that represent the nations included in the Marshall Plan: The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, France and Germany. In addition, the plaza displays the flags of the United States, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and VFW, Post 47.
Along the walkway are plaques that present a timeline of Marshall’s life. Born Dec. 31, 1880 in Uniontown, Marshall graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1900 and entered a military career that included his serving under General John J. Pershing in World War I, being Army Chief of Staff during World War II, becoming Secretary of State after the war, creating the Marshall Plan, serving as head of the American Red Cross and Secretary of Defense before his retirement in 1951.
He died on Oct. 16, 1959.
While his accomplishments are many, Marshall is best remembered for creating the Marshall Plan, a recovery program for Europe after World War II. It’s credited by many for saving the world from communism. He was honored for this effort with the 1953 Nobel Prize for Peace.
This part of the plaza also incorporates the World War I Doughboy sculpture, a local landmark that was erected at this site in 1936 by VFW, Post 47.
A plaque on the base of the Doughboy sculpture notes it was erected “in honor of those who have served our country in all wars and who have given their lives that we may live and prosper in peace.’
Last year, the Friends of Marshall erected a counterpart to the doughboy with a World War II G.I., who is located across Main Street in the second part of the park.
A plaque near the G.I. sculpture contains a quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Our sons, pride of our nation…’
Commonly referred to as Phase II, this part of the plaza includes a sculpture of Marshall dressed in his World War II uniform and sitting reflectively on a bench. Three plaques in this area highlight remarks Marshall made concerning war.
The sculpture is at the top of a wide row of steps, besides another bench. This area, the site of the former Vileseck building, also contains a small parking lot for visitors.
Here is a look at the narratives on the plaques that highlight Phase I. Each is marked with the five stars:
George Catlett Marshall: The commander of the U.S. Army in World War II, the author of the plan for European economic recovery after the war, and the winner of the 1953 Nobel Prize for Peace was born on Main Street across from this site on Dec. 31, 1880. The youngest son of Laura and George C. Marshall Senior struggled in some school subjects. However, he excelled in one, history. “It is clear he got a thorough grounding in the American tradition’ in Uniontown. Marshall recalled, “I … stuck my nose into everything.’
A Solid Foundation: The Marshall household was the last residence on West Main Street before crossing Coal Lick Run stream. The home included a barn and what the family called the “orchard,’ a carriage house, four large apple trees, a brick spring house, a “very crude shack’ where George kept his rabbits and right outside his bedroom window, off the second floor, a grapevine. On summer mornings, George “pulled(ed) down bunches of delicious Concord grapes.’
George and Friends: George’s best friend, Andy Thompson, lived opposite him on Main Street. At one time or another, the two boys variously ran a “restaurant,’ grew tomatoes, loafed at the nearby blacksmith shop, played billiards and conducted a ferry service across Coal Lick Run. George had a “crush on Catharine Lindsey and played ball with athletic Herb Bowman. Once he and friends rode their bicycles 12 miles to Brownsville where they hopped a boat to New Geneva. To his friends, George was “Flicker,’ a carefree, freckle-faced youngster.
“I sat in front…’ One winter, George’s parents brought him his very own Flexible Flyer sled. Thereafter George and his father rode together, Mr. Marshall’s wide girth adding to the sled’s weight and velocity. “I sat in front with a skate on my foot (to guide the sled) and my father would sit behind and was supposed to swing the sled,’ George recalled.
On Sundays, the family attended St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where George “pumped’ the church organ. He was eventually “fired’ from this assignment after getting caught reading a dime-store novel.
A Sense of History: George’s interest in history stemmed from his surroundings. He was aware that Main Street was part of the National Road and that the nearby White Swan Inn was a popular hostelry from pioneer days. He hunted and fished in the vicinity of Jumonville Glen and Dunbar’s Knob, famous French and Indian War sites. While picnicking with his family at Fort Necessity, George heard the story of George Washington’s first battle. His imagination was set on fire.
Choosing a Career: On Aug. 28, 1899, Uniontown was lined with American flags and red, white and blue bunting to welcome home Company C, 10th Pennsylvania Regiment from the Philippines and the Spanish-American War. The return of Company C was Marshall’s “first great emotional reaction’ and sealed his future. “…the impressions of that period, particularly of that parade, had a determining effect on my choice of a profession.’ On February 3, 1902, in Uniontown, Marshall was commissioned a lieutenant in the United States Army.
The Middle Years: George graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1901, and was soon in the Philippines leading troops. Marshall spent World War I at the side of General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force. His first wife, Elizabeth Coles Marshall, died in 1927. In the 1930s, Marshall transformed Army training and command tactics, headed several Conservation Civilian Corps camps and remarried. He contemplated retirement. His wife, Katherine, worried that his “brilliant mind’ was being wasted in secondary commands.
Plan “Without Hysteria:’
On Sept. 1, 1939, within hours of the start of World War II, George Marshall became Army Chief of Staff. Honored in Uniontown eight days later, Marshall declared the U.S. must plan for an uncertain future “without emotional hysteria.’ War found the U.S. woefully unprepared. From 1939 to 1945, General Marshall directed the drafting, recruiting, training and transporting around the world of an eight million-man force. He chose Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton, Stilwell and MacArthur as Army field commanders. Winston Churchill called Marshall the “organizer’ of Allied victory.
Europe First, Then Japan: The leading advocate in the Allied High Command of an invasion of Northern France, General Marshall successfully fought off proposals to delay or indefinitely postpone the D-Day attack. When the British wanted to invade the enemy-held island of Rhodes off Turkey, he replied, “Not one American will die’ there.’ D-Day, June 6, 1944, represented Marshall’s strategic vision. In the Pacific, he advocated steady pressure and a policy of opportunism. He enforced clear lines and unity of command everywhere.
A Citizen’s Army: Marshall insisted that the fighting men of World War II receive the best possible care and regularly inquired about soldiers in remote commands. He worried most about the beleaguered infantryman. He created the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WACS), rushed the enlistment of Japanese-Americans and the use of black soldiers in combat. “The American people … like and trust George Marshall,’ Time magazine said. “The secret is American democracy is the stuff Marshall is made of.’
Mr. Secretary: In January 1947, after failing to mediate an end to the Chinese civil war, George Marshall was appointed Secretary of State by President Truman. The last Allied leader to give up hope of working with the Soviets, Marshall concluded in the spring 1947 that the U.S.S.R. was stalling a German settlement. “We are at the point of decision.’ Marshall helped build a bipartisan foreign policy. Aid to Greece and Turkey, the Berlin Airlift and the creation of NATO ensued.
The Marshall Plan: Secretary Marshall’s speech at Harvard on June 5, 1947 launched the Marshall Plan. The 16-nation European Recovery Program was aimed against hunger and desperation. “The role of this country should consist of friendly aid in the drafting of a European program.’ With the nation initially opposed, Marshall spent a year turning public opinion, starting with a speech in Pittsburgh. The Marshall Plan transformed Europe. Marshall’s achievement was honored with the 1953 Nobel Prize for Peace.
The Marshall Legacy: George Marshall became president of the American Red Cross, and, in time, Secretary of Defense, retiring from that office and public service in 1951. He died in 1959 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. President Harry Truman said of George Marshall “He is the great one of the age.’ Dwight Eisenhower: “Americans have never been so deeply indebted to any other soldier.’ U.S. Statesman Henry Stimson: “I have never known anyone who seemed so surely to breathe the democratic American spirit, … The destiny of America at the most critical time of its national existence has been in the hands of a great and good man. Let no man forget.’
Phase I also contains plaques on the bridge that are quotes from Marshall about Uniontown:
Marshall’s quotes are again captured on the narratives of three plaques located near his sculpture in Phase II. These are about war:
“I come from a young country and therefore an impatient country. … Our purpose … is to see that peace comes to the world, to men’s minds, and comfort to the people. …There is no doubt in my mind that if we decide to do this thing, we can do it successfully. And there is also no doubt in my mind that the whole world hangs in the balance.’
And…
“Never has it been so imperative that we give definite guidance for future generations against the horrors and the colossal waste of war. We must not leave our freedom and security to the hazards of mere hope or chance. …We must not speculate with the security of this nation.’
And…
“The cost of war is written neatly in many ledgers whose columns are gravestones. I am greatly moved to find some means of avoiding another calamity of war.’