What does the Somerset County Courthouse not have?
That's what Nancy Lehman asked her husband, William. A monument to the Revolutionary War soldiers was the answer.
The couple live near the courthouse in Somerset. Bill is a member of The Great Glades Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (PASSAR) and Nancy is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
"I thought it would be a nice idea to have a monument at the courthouse," Nancy Lehman said.
Bill Lehman agreed and took the idea to his charter members.
"Do you remember the celebrations in 1976? It was a special time in America. We celebrated the founding of our country and men who gave their lives and fortunes in the cause of liberty," he said in a press release. "Nearly 200 citizens of that 'First Greatest Generation' lie buried in the soil of Somerset County. Some lie in well-marked cemeteries. Some are located in cemeteries on the farms and in the fields of their settled lands. Some have been lost, but to God. All must be remembered."
Lehman said a monument to the colonial soldier would be a great addition to the Somerset County monuments.
"It is a good dovetail with the 250th anniversary of the country coming up," he said in a phone interview.
The chapter members agreed. Now they are undertaking a project to honor the veteran patriots of the American Revolution with a monument on the grounds of the courthouse.
The monument
"The Somerset County Commissioners have given their approval to have the monument placed on the grounds of the Somerset County Courthouse. We were looking online at different design options and monuments out there," Lehman said. "We'd tailor it to our area."
The monument will be approximately 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide and be made of black granite. It will be on a raised granite dais and will appear similar to an open book. The left side will provide the memorial statement and the right side will have a lifesized symbolic soldier of the American Revolution, Lehman said.
"The last discussion we had we're considering it on the plaza in front of the steps off Union Street," he said.
Lehman said the commissioners said they are planning to replace the concrete plaza this year and the new monument will take one of the blocks. He said records show there were two courthouses on the site of the current building, one closer to the street than the current one.
"It'll be almost like an archeological dig to see what will be uncovered," Lehman said.They are working with Eternal Memorial in Johnstown to build the monument. Lehman said he doesn't have the final cost of the monument yet, but the latest cost estimate in February shows it'll be at least $25,000.
The start date for the project will depend on when the granite, which is coming from Africa, will be delivered, Lehman said. The completion date goal is Veterans Day 2025.
"While we have already committed about 40% of the cost from our savings, we will still need help. We have begun fundraising for the monument," Lehman said in the press release.
Some organizations already contributing to the monument are the Great Crossings and Forbes Road DAR, the Joseph Schantz SAR chapter from Johnstown and also the Frontier Patriots SAR in Bedford.
"That shows there is an interest in getting this project done," Lehman said.
To make a tax-deductible donation to this project, send it to Everett Sechler, treasurer, at 7758 Kingwood Road, Confluence, PA 15424, or give your donation to a Great Glades SAR member. Checks should be made out to The Great Glades Chapter, PASSAR.
Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 37 years, covering school boards, borough councils, sports and new stories. She was the Home and Family editor for 20 years, and was the primary editor and reporter for a variety of special projects, features and tabs.
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