Mahoning Township Lions Club is continuing to look for a few more veterans.

As part of the project to move the Mahoning Valley Honor Roll Monument, the club is seeking the names of veterans to be included on the monument. The deadline to register is Jan. 31.Rodger Diehl, club member, is hoping that any veterans who have not yet contacted the club will do so as soon as possible. The current large, vertical stone only lists some of the names of veterans from Mahoning Township who served in World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War, but Diehl believes there are additional people who were missed.Diehl said that since a story about the Mahoning Township monument appeared in the TIMES NEWS last month he has received 90 more names of veterans to add to the memorial. The monument is currently being stored at Walters Monument, Summit Hill.Also as a way to get the word out, Diehl said that the Mahoning Valley Ambulance included a registration form in their ambulance drive."I provided 2,400 forms to the ambulance company," said Diehl. "I am hoping that people who got their ambulance subscription looked at it and plan to mail it in as soon as possible. I know that one person threw theirs away and I am concerned that people may be throwing them away without looking at them."Walters Monument needs to know the number of names so they know just how big a stone they need to secure for the memorial. If you believe you are eligible, please contact the Mahoning Lions as soon as possible."Diehl said the Mahoning Lions are hoping to eliminate any confusion on eligibility. Anyone who enlisted or was drafted while living in Mahoning Township and meets the dates below or grew up outside of Mahoning Township, but has lived within the boundary of Mahoning Township for at least 25 years, is eligible."We are asking that veterans be able to verify their service by providing a DD 214 or have a witness sign off on the application," he said. "We do not want to prevent any eligible veteran from applying simply because they do not have access to their separation form, but we do want to eliminate the possibility of having added names that do not belong."Veterans eligible to be included in the monument should be active duty or served in the role of support personnel during the following dates:• Korean War, June 25, 1950 to July 31, 1955.• Vietnam War, Feb. 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975.• Lebanon conflict, Aug. 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984.• Panama conflict, Dec. 20 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990.• Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Aug. 2, 1990 to present.• Operation Enduring Freedom, March 20, 2003 to present.• Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 20, 2003 to present.Diehl emphasized that any veteran who enlisted or was drafted into military service while living in Mahoning Township during any of these periods is encouraged to contact him at (570) 386-5413 or e-mail at

rodger@ptd.net by mail to Robert J. Condly at 15 Laurel View Drive, Lehighton, PA 18235.Diehl said state Rep. Keith McCall provided a $6,000 grant to the Mahoning Township Lions Club and that the grant must be spent by summer or the funding will be lost. The monument has been moved from its former site on Mill Road, also State Route 902, because the location had limited access, had no off street parking, was not handicapped accessible and was on a busy highway. The new location at the Chapel Grove Lions Pavilion/soccer field offers easy access, plenty of off street parking and has enough room to hold memorial services.Diehl said that any names collected up until Jan. 31 will be included on the memorial at no cost, but that after that date, there will be a cost associated to add any additional names. He stressed that it was very important for veterans to act as soon as possible. After Jan. 31, names that are added will not be in alphabetical order.Diehl said that the five bases have already been constructed in anticipation of erecting the monument.