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Pocono News Section
Walk for History Held in Wyoming
Walk for History Held in Wyoming - Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 6:20PM EST
Reported by: Mark Hiller
Saturday, Aug 8, 2009 @ 06:20pm EST
WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY- People young and old take part in the first ever "Walk for History" in Wyoming.
They're all here for a common goal -- to fix the Wyoming monument. The marker honors soldiers killed in the 1778 Battle of Wyoming. Lightning damaged the monument last August.
Marcella Starr, President of the Wyoming Monument Association, said, "It's designated as a national historic site and it's very important that we keep it in good condition."
Wyoming Mayor Bob Boyer added, "It's a major part of our town and a major part of, actually, this region's heritage and it's a big project to repair the monument so it's a community effort and a team effort."
The monument repair job comes with a big price tag -- more than $110,000. 6-year-old Kyle Zeller wants to do his part. ŇThe important thing is to get money for the monument and try to get as much money as we can to restore the monument," he said.
That sense of importance is shared by walkers whether they live near or far. Gene Stelp said, "I walked the 120-miles from Harrisburg along the Wyoming Path, the Warriors path, to help raise funds for the memorial."
The monument is also important to Gene Stelp, who used to live in the Wyoming Valley. "I saw this when I was a kid, rode my bike up here when I was a kid from Wilkes-Barre... it has meaning for me," he said.
Robin Robinson of Mehoopany added, "The history of the area is, is vital. You need to maintain it."
Robinson traveled from his Wyoming County home to take part in the walk. He had a flag with him but let Kyle Zeller carry it, instead. "I thought it was cool so I... he let me hold the flag," said Zeller.
"The young boy I gave my flag to carry today... he was so excited just to be a part of this and that's... that's the reason -- the next generation and the generation after that. You need to maintain that," said Robinson.
This walk won't raise all the funds needed, but it gets them several steps closer and sends out an important message. "If we forget the past we forget part of ourselves so you have to remember the past, you have to learn from it and these markers, these memorials are important pieces of our heritage," said Stelp.
Even if you couldn't participate in the walk for history, you can still donate money to the Wyoming Monument Repair Fund. Send donations to the Wyoming Borough building or the Wyoming Library and indicate itŐs for the monument. | | |
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