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Friends of Georgetown seeking support to give the tiny town's veterans their due on honor roll

Beaver County Times - 7/21/2017

July 21--GEORGETOWN -- When the list of names are added together, this borough has sent what amounts to more than its entire population to serve in war and peace for the country.

Georgetown, founded in 1793 on the south bank of the Ohio River near where Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia meet, has a population of 174, give or take a few births, deaths or new arrivals since the 2010 census.

At its height, the population was about 300, and in its history, which mirrors that of the nation, Georgetown has sent at least 225 people into service in the military. They've fought in every war since the American Revolution and many are buried in Grand Heights Cemetery on a hill that overlooks the close-knit village.

There's a small war memorial with a replica cannon on Market Street in town, but a plywood honor roll that had listed those who served has long since deteriorated.

In January, a group of residents banded together to form the Friends of Georgetown, a group that's working to raise about $30,000 to create a granite monument that will serve as an honor roll for Georgetown's veterans on Market Street between the town's two churches.

"It's been in the mind for a while," Kay Adams, a resident who was instrumental in forming the group said. "The monument in the center of the town does not have any names on it. I felt the men of Georgetown should be recognized with names."

She's found support from others and they've met, done research to track down and confirm names, and sent letters to organizations and former residents and relatives of residents across the country seeking money, information and support so the monument can be installed in time for a Sept. 2 dedication.

"We have heard from former residents in 18 states," Adams said.

They're about halfway toward their goal of raising the $29,000 needed for the monument and have planned several fund raisers to meet that goal.

"We've had a lot of people and groups and businesses contribute," Debbie Felton said.

She's done a lot of the research to compile the names on the memorial and said that while they think they have a comprehensive list, if someone is left off, there's room on the back of the monument to add more names.

"We tried to do the best job we can do. If we missed somebody, it wasn't intentional," Felton said.

The group has also enlisted the help of two of the town's younger residents -- rising South Side Area School District seniors Shane Barr and Alyssa Reed -- to take up the cause. Barr and Reed are working with the Friends of Georgetown to complete their required senior project.

They've volunteered with the group and are organizing a "Monumental Walk" from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Aug. 19 in Georgetown to raise money for the cause. In addition to the walk, which includes a walk and 5K, a car show, a craft show, a 50/50 raffle, reverse raffle and bake sale.

"We appreciate all of the sacrifices that the men and women who have served and are currently serving have made," the students said in the flier they're distributing around the area.

"I wanted to do this to give back to the veterans who served for us, so I figured this would be the best thing to do," Barr said.

After hearing that he was involved, Reed soon came aboard too.

Military service is a big part of both of the students' families and Reed, who has researched Georgetown's history for previous school projects, said she's often seen people visit the town -- which has no stoplights or stores -- solely to look at the present war memorial.

"There's not much to see," Reed said.

That will change after Sept. 2, when the Friends of Georgetown are planning a big ceremony to dedicate the memorial which will include many veterans groups and is expected to attract people from across the country who have ties to the town.

"I expect well over 200 people," Adams said.

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(c)2017 the Beaver County Times (Beaver, Pa.)

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