Commissioners present $119,000 for veterans memorial in Donora
DONORA – For Tom Delsandro, Wednesday was a great day in Donora and a special group of former borough residents.
The Washington County commissioners visited the borough that day to present a ceremonial check for $119,000 to help rebuild the AP Delsandro Veterans Memorial, at the intersection of Sixth Street and Meldon Avenue, next to the Donora Post Office.
The money, from the Local Share Account, will be going toward the $160,000 memorial project. AP Delsandro was Tom Delsandro’s father.
“My thoughts, truly from my heart, is that it’s a big day for Donora, but it’s a bigger day for the 87 names on those plaques and those families and all veterans, retired or active,” Tom Delsandro said. “It’s also gratifying to know that the leadership of our (borough) won’t let them be forgotten.”
The memorial was erected in the early 1980s to pay tribute to the 87 Donora residents who died in World War I and II, as well as Korea and Vietnam wars.
Due to environmental damage, the original memorial was removed. The LSA grant will be used to replace the memorial with a new structure that will include professionally designed lighting and a landscaped seating area.
The APD Veterans Memorial Committee has been fundraising and already some improvements have been made, including four 5-by-10-foot original art murals that feature colorful and patriotic images of the wars represented at the memorial.
AP Delsandro was Donora’s first mayor.
“He was active in veterans rights before it was cool,” Tom Delsandro said of his father. “He was a commander of the American Legion. He was commander of the Catholic War Veterans. He was always active in veterans rights and because of that they erected the first memorial in his name.”
Mayor Don Pavelko also expressed gratitude for the funding.
“The Delsandro family has been a pillar of the community,” Pavelko said. “Paying tribute to those who lost their lives in service to the country, that’s been a pillar of this town forever. Finally, we got some recognition and we got some money. I’m so glad for them.”
Nick Sherman, chairman of the board of commissioners, said helping the Mon Valley is important to him, as he grew up in Union Township.
“Donora is the comeback story of Washington County,” Sherman said. “There’s a lot of good things that are happening. There’s a lot of jobs that are coming into the Mon Valley.”
Commissioner Larry Maggi said projects such as this are a good fit for the LSA funding, derived from proceeds of casino revenue.
“This helps the community,” he said. “We want to try and help communities like Donora with that LSA money. We’re glad we’re able to help them a little bit. We’re sure this will be a welcome infusion into the Valley.”
Delsandro said the money will not be received until July or August. He hopes work will begin in October and possibly be finished by the end of the year.