KDKA: Mt. Lebanon Soldiers Honored With Monument

The words “in honor of those who served” say it all at a Mt. Lebanon Veterans Memorial.

Words that, for families with young children, teach them about the sacrifice people in their town and all over the country made. The National Anthem rings out in a community who on Memorial Day starts a tradition with its first official ceremony here.

Watch the video:

• pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/05/27/mt-lebanon-soldiers-honored-with-monument (KDKA)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon unveils veterans memorial

The threat of rain didn't dampen the spirit of hundreds of Mt. Lebanon residents who gathered outside the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center May 27 to witness the dedication of the Veterans Memorial. The evening marked the conclusion of a two-year effort to permanently honor Mt. Lebanon men and women who served in the military.

The memorial, located on Morgan Drive, is constructed of Pennsylvania sandstone and features the names of Mt. Lebanon's war dead inscribed on white marble stones. The memorial is easily seen by the American flag rising from the center of the obelisk, and the memorial will be lit at night.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/05-30-2012-Lebo-vets-memorial-w-pic (The Almanac)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon sets date for dedication of vets memorial

After more than two years of planning and fund raising, Mt. Lebanon will dedicate its Veterans Memorial on Morgan Drive at 7:30 p.m. May 27.

Keynote speaker will be Mt. Lebanon resident, Vietnam veteran and former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rocky Bleier, who chaired the fund-raising committee with former Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Dan Gigler.

Speakers will include Mt. Lebanon commission President David Brumfield and other elected officials, in addition to former commissioner Dan Miller who launched the project. Representatives of Duquesne Light, which awarded the project a $220,000 Power of Light Grant, will also attend.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/04-04-2012-ML-vets-monument (The Almanac)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon Veterans Memorial gets boost from Duquesne Light

It was a bright occasion at the Dec. 13 Mt. Lebanon Commission meeting when Duquesne Light Company CEO Richard Riazzi presented former Pittsburgh Steeler and Mt. Lebanon Veterans Memorial Chairman Rocky Bleier a check for $220,000 to fund the lighting component of the Mt. Lebanon Veterans Memorial.

Also on hand to receive the donation were memorial chairman Dan Gigler and commission president Daniel Miller. Dubbed the "Power of Light," the donation will go to the installation of a lighted flag, flagpole and the installation of several hundred in-ground lights to pay tribute to Korean War, Vietnam War and World War II veterans from Mt. Lebanon.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/12-21-2011-ML-vets-memorial (The Almanac)

Trib: Utility grant to brighten Mt. Lebanon veterans memorial

A proposed Mt. Lebanon Veterans Memorial got a big boost on Monday when Duquesne Light announced it will donate $220,000 to add hundreds of tiny lights that would symbolize soldiers lost all around the world.

The Power of Light grant will allow Mt. Lebanon to move forward with the design as originally intended by Garfield-based Loysen & Kreuthmeier Architects. Construction bids exceeded the amount raised for the memorial so the municipality made the lights an option that could be funded and built separately, municipal spokeswoman Susan Morgans said.

Read the full article:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_760070.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Trib: To date, little light shed on Mt. Lebanon memorial project

Mt. Lebanon officials are seeking a grant to cover the cost of symbolic lights planned as part of the town's veterans' memorial.

After the first round of bids for the memorial came in much higher than expected in June, planners divided the proposed contract so bidders could submit separate prices for the monument and a retaining wall, sidewalk improvements and hundreds of tiny lights representing soldiers scattered around the world.

Read the full article:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_759127.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Trib: Bids come in high for Mt. Lebanon veterans memorial

Bids for Mt. Lebanon's planned veterans memorial have again come back higher than what's been raised, but low enough that the project is affordable if it does not include scattered lights that are designed to represent soldiers around the world.

Bids opened on Wednesday show McKeesport-based TBI Contracting as the lowest bidder, at $198,500 for the memorial alone, $10,000 for a retaining wall and $280,000 for the electrical work, including the lights. The municipality might seek a grant to cover the electrical work, Commissioner Dan Miller said.

Read the full article:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_757968.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Patch: Lebo Brew Fest Raises $18K

Mt. Lebanon Magazine reported Monday that Saturday's 2nd Annual Brew Fest raised $18,000 for the Mt. Lebanon Veterans Memorial.

"The money's been counted, and, hooray, we cleared $18,000 for the Veterans Memorial at Brew Fest," was posted on the magazine's Facebook page Monday. "Great weather. Great time. Thanks to the distributors who brought an unbelievable selection of cool beers. Also thanks to Howard Hanna, First Commonwealth, Bado's, The Saloon, Uptown Rhythm and Brass, Louis Anthony Jewelers, Rollier's, and everyone else who donated time, services and money to such a worthwhile cause."

Read the full article:

• peters.patch.com/articles/lebo-brew-fest-raises-18k (PetersPatch)

P-G: Bids come in high for Mt. Lebanon veterans memorial

Bids for the construction of a veterans memorial in Mt. Lebanon came in substantially higher than expected today.

But the municipality is still committed to building and dedicating the memorial by Memorial Day 2012, said Dan Miller, a Mt. Lebanon commissioner who has been involved in the project.

The estimated cost of building the memorial was about $200,000, and a fund-raising drive over the last year has raised about $197,000, of which $27,000 went to fund-raising and planning costs, said Susan Morgans, the public information officer for Mt. Lebanon.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/pg/11159/1152292-100.stm (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon breaks ground for vets memorial

A soft breeze stirred the top of the pine trees at the entrance to the Mt. Lebanon Park early on Memorial Day morning as about 200 people gathered for the official ground breaking ceremony for the Veterans Memorial.

The memorial, for which bids will be opened June 6, will be dedicated to all Mt. Lebanon veterans who served their country. Completion is expected in about a year.

Memorial Day was especially poignant for District Judge Blaise Larotonda. His two children are currently serving in the military. His daughter recently returned from a tour in Iraq with the U.S. Navy; his son is with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story10/06-01-2011-ML-memorial-groundbreaking (The Almanac)

WPXI: Groundbreaking Ceremony Held For New Veterans Memorial In Mt. Lebanon

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Mt. Lebanon on Monday for a new veterans memorial. Students from the Mt. Lebanon School District helped dig the ceremonial scoops.

Vietnam veteran and former Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier was one of the event's speakers.

Read the full article (with video):

• www.wpxi.com/news/28071456/detail.html (WPXI)

The Almanac: Video to raise awareness for vets memorial

In an effort to raise money for the proposed Mt. Lebanon memorial for veterans and their families, the committee decided to take a different approach.

The group made a 9-minute video that does not beg the watcher for money.

Susan Morgans, public information officer for Mt. Lebanon, is the liaison for the municipality and the group, which includes Vietnam veteran, Mt. Lebanon resident and former Steeler Rocky Bleier.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/12-01-2010-ML-vets-video (The Almanac)

Veterans Memorial Funding Committee Releases Video

The Veterans Memorial Funding Committee has released a video describing the project and how people can help to build it. The description of the video on YouTube is as follows:

"Learn about the Veterans Memorial proposed for Mt. Lebanon Park and how you can get involved. Featuring former Steelers running back Rocky Bleier. Produced by J.W. Stehle in collaboration with the Mt. Lebanon Public Information Office."

P-G: Groundbreak set for vets memorial in Mt. Lebanon

Memorial Day 2011 will be a big one in Mt. Lebanon when it comes to honoring veterans.

That is the target date for the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Mt. Lebanon Veterans Memorial to be built on Morgan Drive at the entrance to Mt. Lebanon Park on property owned by the municipality.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/pg/10322/1104121-55.stm (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Almanac: ML Brew Fest will benefit veterans

My dad was a veteran, a handsome man in his military uniform. Even though I was a baby when he served our country, a photo I have of him in his Army khakis is my favorite. It's the picture I have in my mind when I look at his name engraved on the veterans monument in Canonsburg.

Traditional monuments or living memorials can be seen in most communities across the U.S., built as a reminder of the sacrifices of men and women who served to protect our freedom.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/10-27-2010-roamin-s-hills-l-gregus-2-pix-1-info-box (The Almanac)

Mt. Lebanon Begins Its Fundraising For Veterans' Memorial

For years, Jack Haller of Mt. Lebanon has dreamed of a memorial honoring those in his community, who have made the ultimate sacrifice for America in conflicts across the world, especially former classmates of his from the Second World War.

This Thursday, July 23, that dream takes a big step toward being realized when the municipality begins raising funds to build a $154,000 memorial in Mt. Lebanon Park honoring all veterans, those who died in war as well as served in the armed forces.

Read more: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/07-21-2010-Mt--Lebo-Memorial

Bleier Backs Vets Memorial For Mt. Lebanon

Just as he did on the football field, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rocky Bleier is giving his all to see a veterans memorial constructed in Mt. Lebanon Park.

Bleier, a longtime Mt. Lebanon resident, will lend his name and his hand to a fundraising drive to honor all who served their country in the armed services. Plans call for a public rally for the veterans memorial during Mt. Lebanon's July 4 celebration in the main park just off Morgan Drive. "Rock" has been named honorary chairman of the Veterans' Memorial Committee, and everyone who contributes will be publicly acknowledged.

Read more: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_686300.html

Mt. Lebanon Names Vets Panel

Mt. Lebanon Commission named members of a citizens committee which will review the possibility of creating a veterans' memorial somewhere in the municipality. In early June, Commissioner Dan Miller spearheaded the project after he was contacted by Jack Haller, a World War II veteran, who said there was no memorial in Mt. Lebanon for WWII vets.

Miller asked that an ad hoc committee be formed to evaluate the proposal, and report back to the commission with recommendations. On July 14, commissioners named Jack Haller, William Hoon, Steve Lane, Bill Spangenberg, Jim Cannon, Wallace F Workmaster and Ron Block to the committee, pending review of their resumes, for a term ending June 30, 2009.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/07-16-ML-vets-committee-B

Mt. Lebanon Forms Memorial Committee

Mt. Lebanon Commissioners decided to proceed in forming an special committee to evaluate creation of a veteran's memorial in the municipality.

Commissioner Dan Miller spearheaded the work after he was contacted by Jack Haller, a World War II veteran, who said there was no memorial in Mt. Lebanon for WWII vets. Miller asked that an ad hoc committee be formed to evaluate the proposal, and report back to the commission with recommendations.

On June 9 fellow commissioners Dale Colby, a Vietnam veteran, and John Daley joined Miller and agreed to create the committee.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/06-18-ML-vet-mem-ad-hoc-B

Board Mulls Vet Honor

Jack Haller, a Mt. Lebanon resident and World War II veteran, remembers seeing two cork "pushboards" in the lobby of Mt. Lebanon's municipal building in 1946.

One board contained the names of all the Mt. Lebanon residents who served in World War II. The other was a "Gold Star" board, listing the names of Mt. Lebanon residents who served, but didn't come home.

This was a close as Mt. Lebanon ever got to a public memorial honoring World War II veterans. Both boards have long since disappeared from public view and memory.

Haller, now 84, said he's been asking municipal officials for years if some type of permanent memorial to those who lost their lives might be constructed somewhere in Mt. Lebanon.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/06-11-ML-veterans-memorial-B