Bowmanstown plans to unveil its refurbished veterans monument on the Fourth of July.

The public is invited to attend the rededication ceremony of the Bowmanstown Borough Veterans Monument at 11 a.m. Monday.

Loraine Neal, immediate Past President of the Bowmanstown-Parryville Lions Club, said the Lions Club’s motto is “To Serve” and they see this project as one of its service projects.

“The rededication gives us an opportunity to pause our busy lives and thank so many for ensuring our freedom,” Neal said. “We will have a display of original pictures from the plaque unveiling in August 1947.”

Neal thanked the people who supplied the pictures, and added the Lions Club extends thanks to Zimmerman’s, Hearn Enterprises and the Bowmanstown Fire Company for assisting them with this event.

She said they are awaiting final confirmation from speakers, and noted all veterans are invited to take part in the unveiling of the monument, and the placing of a wreath in front of the monument.

Neal said light refreshments will follow.

“We encourage the community to share projects or needs with the Lions Club as we are here ‘To Serve,’?” she said. “If you are interested in joining Lions or helping us with our fundraisers, please feel free to contact one of our members.”

Neal said one of their members brought to the Lions’ attention that the monument was in need of repairs.

“Many of the Lions Club members served our country, and/or their family members served, so there was a natural commitment to the project,” she said. “Our members value the sacrifices that all veterans have made.”

Neal said for those who may have stopped by the monument, it may look fine, “but when you have individuals that care for the monument, understand what is needed to support the monument, we learned that it needed attention.

“We want this monument to be here for years to come so that the future generations will understand that the monument is important to our town, and a place that you can take time to acknowledge those that served the county and those that gave their life,” she said. “It is respectful to ensure that the monument is well-kept.”

Neal said they have several residents and Lions members who voluntarily take care of the monument, such as Terry Engle, who paints the curb, changes the flowers, adds flags or mows the grass.

She said there are other individuals that take care of the monument, cut the grass, ensuring the weeds are kept at bay, the Christmas tree is put up, and the flag is well-kept.

“Of course, the borough staff also help with the maintenance of the monument, but again in a small town, it really takes our citizens to help,” Neal said.

Neal said that in late 2020, they began their plan, and early last year, were awarded a grant to help make the monument refurbishing possible.

They then approached the borough, and they provided more funds to help with the project. In addition, Bowmanstown Area Residents Connected have contributed to the project.

“In small towns like ours, it is imperative that we all work together to make changes and enhancements for our community,” she said. “The Lions Club extends our thanks to our grantor, Bowmanstown Borough and BARC for their financial aid and their partnership on this project.”

Neal said they are grateful to Miele Manufacturing and PA Skill for the grant to clean and restore the monument.

“The grant program is designed to supporting causes that improve communities, and we felt that this project met their goal,” she said.

Neal gave special thanks to Robert Spirano for guiding them with the application and the follow-up.

“We are so appreciative of his help in making this grant a reality,” she said. “The grant gave us the financial support we needed to make the improvements happen.”

Neal described the work that was done to the monument.

“We hired a company that was familiar with restoring monuments,” she said. “They were responsible for cleaning the monument, making repairs and restoring the plaques as needed.”

Neal said she believes the company spent about three days at the monument and may have also done off-site work.

The monument cleaning and refurbishing were approved by council, as it’s the property of the town.

History of Bowmanstown Veterans Monument