Centre County family to dedicate veteran tribute project

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — On May 30, 1968, Major Lewis P. Smith II, of Bellefonte and a pilot for the U.S. Airforce, was shot down during the Vietnam War.

Decades later the family is still searching for Smith. The five brothers and sisters are now honoring him and other veterans with a new memorial.

“Our mother and father would have wanted this, they would want this to be an honor and a tribute to all veterans, as well as to keep the mission of the P.O.W., M.I.A. for the fullest possible accounting alive,” Sister Debra Burger said.

Burger and her family are building a veteran tribute project at the Grange Fairgrounds to honor and remember all who served. To celebrate the family is holding a dedication on July, 27 at 2 p.m.

“I was in 5th grade when our brother was shot down. He was shot down on Memorial Day, May 30, 1968,” Burger said. “I had promised my mother when she was passing away that we wouldn’t stop. We would continue to try to fight to get Lewis back.”

Construction began in 2023 on the new monument, which is right inside of gate four of the Centre County Grange Fair Grounds. It is a new piece that the family thought the grounds was missing.

“Just for the community in general. It’ll be a great, great display, and especially at the fairgrounds. Looking at it now, I think it’s something that is needed here,” Project Manager with Green Horizon Landscape and Family Member Neil Henry said. “Unique to this project will be the memorials that are inlaid into it and around the flag pole. We’re very excited to work on it and make it something that’s going to last a very long time.”

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Thousands of people gather in the fairgrounds annually, something the family says couldn’t be done if it wasn’t for the veterans.

“Our brother is not the only one that is missing. There are over 5,000 in just the state of Pennsylvania,” Burger said. “We’d like to try to keep that mission to help all of the families get the possible accounting that we would like to have for our brother.”

The total cost of the project was $80,000. With community support the project was completely paid for. Burger said she and her family hope this project will help inspire families whose loved ones are MIA/POW to not lose hope.

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