HERNDON - A beautifully restored World War II Honor Roll has been erected as the Herndon Armed Forces Memorial Park moves closer to completion.
A dedication of the park, along Main Street (Route 147), isn't scheduled until the fall or perhaps next spring, but a lot of work, nearly all of it by volunteers, has taken place in the 11 months since a dedication ceremony for a flag pole and plaque was held at the site last September.
A wall made of large-cut rectangular and square stones, colored beige, brown and reddish-brown, serves as a backdrop for the honor roll, which is white with traces of red, blue and gold, and is topped by a golden eagle. On it are the names of 79 men and women from Herndon who served in World War II, including four with asterisks beside their names, indicating they were killed in action.
Insignia of the branches of the armed forces will be mounted on the wall.
Concrete and steel bases for two more flag poles, those for POW-MIA and Pennsylvania flags, were recently installed on a hill to the rear of the stone wall, and the new poles and flags should be going in soon. They will flank the flag pole dedicated last year, which holds a U.S. flag.
A path is cleared through the base of stones currently at the site, marking where a walkway of memorial brick pavers will lead from the sidewalk along the highway to and around the honor roll. Shrubbery and sidewalks are planned as well.
The honor roll, called an "historical treasure" by former Herndon mayor and Marine and Air Force veteran Richard Sweppenhiser, was first erected in October 1943 a block away on fire company property. It was later attached to the side of the former fire house when it served as the municipal building. The honor roll was put into storage when that building was razed about 10 years ago.
It was around 2012 when a committee was formed and the effort to restore the honor roll and find a new location for it began. Herndon artist Jeff Wiseman, who owns Wiseman Graphics two doors north of the new park, took on the restoration job, while, after much searching, the committee found a home for the memorial and park. The property, across Route 147 from the former Herndon National Bank, was donated by Robert "Sam" and Patti Sitlinger, owners of Penn's Tavern, who live just outside the borough.
Those wishing to purchase a memorial brick, to honor those of any branch of the military from any time period, can contact Jim Inch at 570-259-4154 or Judi Deppen at 570-274-4982. Those saluted with the bricks do not have to be from Herndon.
Donations for the park can be sent to the Herndon Armed Forces Memorial Fund, P.O. 343 Herndon 17830.