Mon Valley pays tribute to fallen troops
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
A small group of veterans, patriotic Mon Valley residents and families of those who served the United States in the military gathered in Monessen Sunday to honor the city’s war dead.
On the eve of Memorial Day, veterans from American Legion Post 28 and VFW Post 1190 held a ceremony at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church.
In addition to remarks from veterans and other speakers, U.S. Navy veteran and Monessen magistrate Judge Wayne Vlasic read the names of Monessenites who perished in each foreign war since World War I.
A tribute was also paid to the memory and family of the late Spc. Anthony E. Madison.
“A little over 30 years ago, the 14th Quartermaster Detachment deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. Just six days after arriving in country, the detachment suffered the greatest number of casualties of any allied unit during that attack,” said VFW Post 1190 Commander Ron Chromulak. “Thirteen soldiers were killed and 43 wounded as a result of an Iraqi scud missile attack on Feb. 25, 1991.”
The veteran and VFW commander said 81% of the unit’s soldiers were killed or wounded.
“Among them, another one of our sons, Spc. Anthony E. Madison, was taken as he defended freedom for the United States,” Chromulak said.
He said the city’s former #3 pavilion at City Park was recently renamed the Anthony E. Madison Memorial Shelter, and a plaque donated by the 14th quartermaster Company in Greensburg was presented to the Monessen War Veterans Memorial Trust to be installed at the shelter.
Chromulak said that plaque was unfortunately not weatherproof.
“Through the generosity of Evans Graphics, a plaque that can be used outdoors was made and donated and is now installed at the picnic shelter,” Chromulak said.
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