County director creating local database of honor rolls, veterans memorials
Barbara S. Miller/Observer-Reporter
This plaque at Patriots Pavilion on South Main Street in Washington bears the symbols of service branches.
A marble flagpole base on Washington & Jefferson College's south campus reaches back to the country's original veterans.
Barbara S. Miller/Observer-Reporter
This plaque on Washington’s former train station pays tribute to those who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The veterans walkway off South Main Street in Washington features hundreds of names.
It seems every community has an honor roll to commemorate its men and women in uniform.
Most people probably pass by at least one during their daily travels.
Susan Meighen, Washington County’s director of veterans services, wants to compile a list – actually, an online database – to serve as a guide to those who may be from out of the area but are looking for a forebear’s name, or are seeking to have a name added.
“I’m doing it basically on my own because I believe it’s important for this office to maintain records of all county-related veterans and war memorials,” Meighen said this week.
The honor rolls may take various forms: granite or marble monuments; brass plaques; or bricks in a memorial walkway.
Some may be decorated with flags or flowers, or they may be the scene of gunfire salutes on Memorial Day.
The Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion spearheaded an effort of this type in 2014, but officials did not return email inquiries from the Observer-Reporter to discuss it.
The information Meighen would like to include about each monument would be its location and purpose; who it honors; if it’s directed toward a specific town; when it was installed; and who maintains it. She’d also like to feature a photo of each one.
“My plan is to have this available to the public on the Washington County website once we get it all together,” she said.
“We get a lot calls where someone says, ‘I believe my dad’s name should be on a memorial.'” Meighen said.
Her office has a Facebook page, and she intends to spread the word through American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
“I’m doing this on my own as my own initiative,” Meighen said. “Maybe other counties will follow suit, or maybe they have databases that I’m just not aware of.”
Her email is Meighens@co.washington.pa.us, and her office phone number is 724-228-6865.