Sewickley Herald

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Suburban Pittsburgh's Largest Audited Paid Newspapers
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T*saiy Cents
In Two Sections
Wednesday, June 14,1978
Voi. 79 No. 24
Last hurrah for "76 means something new
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BICENTENNIAL LADY Gloria C. Berry is flanked by Leo T. Balk and William
E. StBst who planned «he mustering ent ceremonies of the local Bicentennial committee on Saturday.	(Photo by Margaret Marshall.)
Flags for nsw Ämsricans
Three Americana in the Sewickley Valley were presented with Bags by the American Legion Post No. 4 at the dedication of the Sewickley Valley Bicentennial flagpole In Wolcott Park last Saturday afternoon.
Leo T. Balk, chairman of the day, presented banners that had flown over the u,s. Capitol, Potor Freymark of
Edgeworth, who became a cltlazen on February 17,1978 accepted his in person. Ida and Michael Mastroianni of Sewickley had to work, so a younger brother, Silvio and Patsy, father of all three,' accepted on their behalf. Italians by birth, Ida and Michael became American citizens on December 16,1977. '




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Saturday was the last hurrah for the Scwiddoy Valley Eieertisnrdsl Committee, Members of that group gathered at Wolcott Park at noon for formal ceremonies dedicating the new 30-ft. aluminum flagpole which the Bicen committee presented to the Valley, The pole will stand as a permanent reminder of the nation’s 200th birthday and the celebration here that involved over a thousand volunteers.
Sunny skies and a slight breeze combined to make the circumstances for flag waving perfect. Shortly after the all-weather flag was raised to the top of the pole, a breeze unfurled it and Old .Glory waved over the assembled crowd.
The occasion was a sentimental one, especially for members of the Committee of 13 who began their meetings in June 1974 in the Sewickley Public Library and carried the Bicentennial Banner through a • series of eight major events in 1976. The events included a Colonial Cotillion, a Pioneer Sports Olympics, the establishment of a gallery to display historical photographs, a band concert in Way Park, a banner and quilt contest, an Arbor Day ceremony and'an all grassroots parade down historic Beaver Road on Labor Day, 1976, Each was a remarkable success. The committee also held one major fund raising appeal andearned additional funds by striking a Bicentennial coin and selling • plates commemorating the occasion.
After the initial meetings, the Committee of 13 was enlarged to include the 76 citizens representing the 11 local boroughs in the Sewickley Valley and a cross-section of community life.
The local Bicentennial group was awarded $4000 in state Bicentennial funds to accomplish some of its goals.
Tri-chairmen of the Sewickley Valley Bicentennial Committee were Hay Walker IV, Gloria C. Berry and Betty G.Y. Shields.
The Committee of 13 included, in addition to the above, Leo T. Balk, Mrs. Giles Gaea, Miss Virginia Hailstock, Mr. Roy Lilly Jr. Samuel C. Mahood, Mrs. Nathan W. Pearson, Miss Loretta Roolf, Mr. William E. Start, Mrs. Josephine H. SyboandMrs. Otto H. Weiss.
Other initiators were former Mayor Edward Henle of Leetsdale, Mrs. W.P. Snyder IV and the Rev. John Guest.
'During 1976, the Committee maintained an office in the Pittsburgh National Bank building of which Mrs. Berry was the manager. She was aided there by Mrs. Barbara Wasco and Mrs. Jan Wendt and other volunteers.
Mustering out the troops at last Saturday’s flag-raising, Mrs. Berry spoke for the Bicentennial Committee in presenting the permanent reminder to the community. She also directed her remarks to . Flag Day coming up on June 14.
“On behalf of the Sewickley Valley Bicentennial Committee it is my pleasure ... to participate in an event that was but a dream in 1976.
"From the very beginning, the Sewickley Valley Bicentennial Committee and, in particular, my co-chairman B.G. Shields, had hoped to give a permanent reminder of our nation’s 200th Birthday to our community. When I say community, I speak of the 11 municipalities that j oined together under the title of the Sewickley Valley Bicentennial Committee.
"We couldn’t be certain that we would realize our dream, but today, thanks to the financial contributions of so many in our area and. through the dedication and hard work of so many volunteers, the dream has become a reality.
The flagpole you see before you* will be identified by a cast bronze tablet, 12’’ X 8". The tablet has a natural sandblast flnish. In the center is the Bicentennial symbol.
The message inscribed on the tablet reads, ‘Presented as a permanent reminder of 1976 by the Sewickley Valley Bicentennial
Committee’
“Mr. William Start and Mr. Leo Balk, members of the Board of Directors of the Sewickley Valley Bicentennial Committee, and active members of the Sewickley American Legion Post 4, have worked diligently, along with their committee, in securing and installing this pole and . bringing to our valley a very special flag.
“The flag, that will be raised here in a few minutes has flown over the nation’s Capitol on the day of May 15,1978. Through the aid of Senator H. John Heinz III, this all-weather flag will now be a part of our community.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t comment . on our beautiful “Stars and Stripes” that , we all love and respect. The birthday of ' “Old Glory" is observed on June 14.1 hope all of you here today will fly your flag this Wednesday, June 14.
“On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress authorized and resolved ‘that the flag of the 13 United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 stars in a blue field, representing a new constellation.’
“As you know, Betsy Ross, sewed the first flag in her home in Philadelphia.
“It was these stars and stripes, flying over Ft. McHenry, Maryland, during the bombardment the night of September 13, 1814 that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner.
- “When you look at our flag, remember that the red stands for. courage, the white stands for liberty,.and the blue stands for loyalty.
“It is now ny pleasure, on behalf of the Committee'of *76, to give you and to all in the Quaker Valley area the flagpole that will bear the Stars and Stripes.”
Flagpole, a Village project
Erection of a flagpole -may seem a simple project, but William E. Start,, chairman of the committee to select and install the bicentennial reminder in Wolcott Park found out it’s a complicated business.
Start and his fellow committee members, Josephine Sybo and Pat Pearson, have been working on the project since fall -When the Sewickley Valley Bicentennial Committee gave them the green light. The group specified a pole with all-weather flag and night lighting.
The pole is up and the all-weather flag is there, but the bronze marker, being -shipped from New York City, is late. Also trying to figure out the best way to illuminate the flagpole has proven a problem too. However, that will be worked out in the future. Start oromlsed.
Just as in other bicentennial projects, the erection of the flagpole became a community affair and Start credited the following persons for their help: Bill Hayes, of Shandon Southern Co.’ Martin McDaniel, Sewickley borough manager; Martin Wise Jr. and Richard McPherson of Wise Supply Co,; Sam Green, Green Engineering Co, ; A1 DeVault ef Sewickley Borough; Louis Trapizona, Louie’s Amoco; Richard Meanor, Richard Start, Leo T. Balk, John J. O’Neill and Chief-HughMcMaster, Sewickley Fire Dept.

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