In Grateful Recongition Marker. Photo submitted.

Pieces of the Past: In Memorium

December 21, 2022

As a radio advertising sales rep, I traveled to places that most people wouldn’t usually go. On one of those occasions, I had to visit the marketing director of Warren General Hospital.

Being the punctual type I was there early, Too early, I had about 15 minutes to kill. So I decided to watch the Allegheny River fleet for a while. For younger readers, the Allegheny Fleet was the name for the ducks that gathered near the boat launch by the Hospital. In order to get a close look I had to walk toward the bridge. This brought my attention to a very large marble marker. My curiosity was piqued.

The inscription at the base of the monument reads: “IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF THE HEROISM AND SACRIFICE OF ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THEMSELVES TO THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY DURING THE WORLD WAR ENDING NOVEMBER 11, 1918. The tablets attached to the stone read like a WHO’S WHO of Warren’s family names. Go anywhere in this nation and there are local names. Warren is full of names you might not find in other communities. At least not in big numbers. Holt, Hepler, Gustafson, and many more. What grabbed me about the stone was that the names were probably great grandfathers of classmates of mine.

World War 1 claimed an incredible toll on Warren County families. The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Warren Chapter funded the construction of the memorial. The two-sided obelisk is centered in a beautiful tree-lined section of the park. It wasn’t until I had a reason to be there that I even knew it was there,

The National Chamber of Commerce keeps interesting statistics. One of those is a category they classify as Residential Retention. Corry, Warren, and other surrounding communities in Western Pennsylvania lead the nation in it. Over 80% of people who are born here, die here. Even if their career or family takes them elsewhere. So chances are if your family has any connection at all to this area, you may have ancestors listed there. Why not stop and look?

         

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