Just over 90 years ago, on Oct. 15, 1921, the residents of what is today the borough of Jim Thorpe unveiled and dedicated a monument honoring the local men who fought in what was then known simply as the "World War."

Today, that monument in Jim Thorpe remembering those soldiers has undergone a total restoration through the hard work and dedication of the World War I Memorial Restoration Committee and the Jim Thorpe Lions Club.The refurbishment of the monument included cleaning an original bronze plaque from 1921, repointing all of the masonry work on the monument, and removing a concrete fountain which was no longer functional.In addition to a World War I battlefield scene, the original bronze plaque also reads, "in grateful memory of those from this community who so faithfully served in the World War."Now placed on the monument are two new bronze plaques, which will have the names of close to 500 veterans of "the World War" from Mauch Chunk, East Mauch Chunk and the outlying township at that time.In addition to the new and restored bronze plaques, there will also be a 28-inch high bronze eagle placed on top of the monument.The stone restoration work on the monument and the bronze plaques were done by Walters Monument Company of Summit Hill.Landscaping around the base of both the monument and the existing nearby flagpole was done by Day's Landscaping and Storage Solutions of Jim Thorpe.The restoration project received a $15,000 Department of Community and Economic Development grant obtained through former state Rep. Keith McCall while he was still in office.This has been a cooperative effort between the Jim Thorpe Lions Club and the World War I Memorial Restoration Committee.It is the third such project done by these two groups, with the two previous projects being the restorations of both the Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk World War II Honor Rolls.The World War I Monument Restoration Committee members are: Chairperson Ron Sheehan; Chairperson Edith Lukasevich; Jolene Evans; attorney Carole Walbert; Ben Walbert; Jim Pompa; Patty Herman; and Frank Sebelin.Tomorrow at 11 a.m., a dedication ceremony will be held for the Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk World War I Honor Roll on the monument located in Memorial Park on East 10th Street.The public is invited to attend this ceremony honoring all of those veterans of so long ago who gave all they had in service to their country.