Upper St. Clair Veterans Day commemoration features statue dedication
William Kofmehl is the Pittsburgh artist who was chosen to sculpt and cast the statue for the Upper St. Clair Veterans Memorial Park.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
The Upper St. Clair Veterans Memorial Park.
The first phase of the Upper St. Clair Veterans Memorial Park is impressive by any measure, with granite monuments dedicated to each branch of the U.S. military on permanent display.
On Nov. 11, the second phase will be presented as part of the fifth annual Veterans Day commemoration at the park, as a bronze statue, sculpted and cast by Pittsburgh native William Kofmehl, takes its place among the monuments.
Kofmehl, who has degrees in fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University and Yale University, will speak of his inspiration and the meaning in the finished work during the commemoration, which starts at 9:30 a.m. Addresses will be given by two decorated Upper St. Clair veterans.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the dedication of the park, which took place on 11-11-11.
Seven years ago, local veterans TJ McGarvey of the U.S. Marines and William Babcock of the U.S. Navy introduced the concept of a memorial. Until then, the township did not have a formal means of honoring veterans.
A committee formed to bring the project to fruition raised money through donations from residents, veterans’ families, businesses and in-kind services to build the memorial, which stands near the township municipal building at 1820 McLaughlin Run Road.
During this year’s commemoration, the Upper St. Clair High School Marching Band and Chanteclairs choir will perform, along with the fourth-grade chorus from Baker Elementary School. 4th The Rev. Valerian Michlik, pastor of St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church, will give the invocation and benediction.
The Marine Corps’ South Hills Detachment 726 will present the colors and the South Hills Honor Guard from American Legion Post 760 will render a gun salute. As has become tradition, trumpeter James Boston, an Upper St. Clair High School junior, will play “Taps.”
Members of the community, especially veterans and their families, are invited to attend the ceremony.