The LuLac Edition #3332, October 26th, 2016

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

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SUGAR NOTCH WAS FIRST TO DEDICATE A MEMORIAL TO FDR

One of my former co workers and political  buddies Mario Fiorucci sent me an interesting letter he penned for the Citizen’s Voice regarding a memorial to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Here’s his letter and the link from the Voice
Editor:
Sugar Notch will be celebrating its 150th anniversary as a borough in 2017, (it was formerly part of Hanover Township). But in 1948, one of the borough’s defining moments occurred when Eleanor Roosevelt came to dedicate the first memorial in the United States to her late husband and four-time president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Eleanor wrote this about her visit: “The people of this little mining town...erected a memorial that I unveiled...and the Anthracite Men’s Choir sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Their Congressman, Dan Flood, presided and the ceremonies were well arranged by John A. Reiley of the Roosevelt memorial committee. The memorial was to all the men who died in the various wars that have made and kept us free and united. For that reason, it is even more important to think, not only of the men themselves and their sacrifice, but of the objectives which were served and for which they laid down their lives. Together we have succeeded not only in recovering from the Great Depression, but in preparing ourselves to fight our greatest war. Still, a war memorial is only a reminder...for building a peace, which can only be accomplished by us.”
As a part of our celebration next year, I hope we can re-enact Eleanor Roosevelt’s dedication with townspeople portraying her and Dan Flood, along with a church choir singing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” This will also be a real re-dedication ceremony that will mark the borough’s 150th birthday celebration and its commitment to the values and legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Mario Fiorucci
Member of council
Sugar Notch
http://citizensvoice.com/opinion/sugar-notch-was-first-to-dedicate-a-memorial-to-fdr-1.2108633#.WBDyP-nLIgw.email