MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY -
With the pull of a rope, bravery and pride are revealed.
One-hundred-sixty-two names are inscribed in the "Court of Valor" memorial at Prospect Hill Cemetery. Every honored name is a York County veteran. All are recognized for their valor by winning various awards from their branches of the armed forces.
Veterans from every conflict from the Civil War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are honored on the 13-foot tall monument.
"We were all forgotten in the Korean War," veteran George Eyler, whose name is on the monument, said. "Now to be recognized, I think it's fabulous."
"I never felt like I received any recognition for what I did," Vietnam veteran William James Starner said. "It bothered me somewhat. Today it all came together. Now I feel I got what I think I deserved."
The monument is topped with a 9' 11" piece of steel from New York's World Trade Center. Prospect Hill Cemetery managing partner Jack Sommer said the beam connects the sacrifices of veterans from past wars to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"For several years it was a vision," Sommer said. "An enormous amount of work and time went into this."
Sommer traveled to New York to get the piece of steel, only the second such piece to be part of a memorial in Pennsylvania. The project was completely financed by Prospect Hill.
Sommer said he never forgot who he was working for.
"They (veterans) served us, and they served us exceptionally well," he said.
One-hundred-sixty-two names are inscribed in the "Court of Valor" memorial at Prospect Hill Cemetery. Every honored name is a York County veteran. All are recognized for their valor by winning various awards from their branches of the armed forces.
Veterans from every conflict from the Civil War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are honored on the 13-foot tall monument.
"We were all forgotten in the Korean War," veteran George Eyler, whose name is on the monument, said. "Now to be recognized, I think it's fabulous."
"I never felt like I received any recognition for what I did," Vietnam veteran William James Starner said. "It bothered me somewhat. Today it all came together. Now I feel I got what I think I deserved."
The monument is topped with a 9' 11" piece of steel from New York's World Trade Center. Prospect Hill Cemetery managing partner Jack Sommer said the beam connects the sacrifices of veterans from past wars to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"For several years it was a vision," Sommer said. "An enormous amount of work and time went into this."
Sommer traveled to New York to get the piece of steel, only the second such piece to be part of a memorial in Pennsylvania. The project was completely financed by Prospect Hill.
Sommer said he never forgot who he was working for.
"They (veterans) served us, and they served us exceptionally well," he said.
