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Those Places Thursday: Monuments

Long before George Clooney read the script for The Monuments Men, we - as a people - were fascinated by monuments. We were hooked even before President Theodore Roosevelt named Devil's Tower, a natural geological wonder in Wyoming, the nation's first National Monument in 1906. Like all states, Pennsylvania proudly displays its fair share of monuments as well.

Everyone loves firemen.

This monument (at left) is the Volunteer Fireman's Monument in Reading, PA. It was dedicated on 2 September 1901. The inscriptions recognize all those firemen who served since for over 100 years.

In Lehigh County, there is a 12 foot tall monument called Fireman's Drinking Fountain. The fireman stands atop the fountain and is holding a lantern in one hand and a child in the other.

Many monuments pay tribute to those who have served in some war or conflict or civil service.

Gettysburg has countless monuments remembering those who fought - on both sides - at that great battle of the Civil War. Many military monuments were erected after the Civil War. Lancaster's Soldiers & Sailors Monument was originally dedicated to those who fought in the Civil War but has come to include all those who served and is located at Penn Square, the traffic hub of the City. Lock Haven too placed her monument in a central position of honor in town.

Valley Forge and the Brandywine Battlefield each have several of their devoted to the men who valiantly fought in the American Revolution. At right is Valley Forge. The granite monument stands among the rugged cabins the men stayed in during the winter. There was no actual battle at Valley Forge but it is remembered because Washington and his men camped here.

Scranton is home to many monuments including the General Casimir Pulaski Monument. It is dedicated to the tactical general who attracted the attention of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin recruited Pulaski to leave his native Poland and take up arms during our Revolution. Pulaski is known today as the Father of the American Calvary for his immense contributions.

Many monuments and historical markers remember those who died tragically.

The Flight 93 National Monument recalls not only those who died there in Shanksville but all who perished on 11 September 2011 in the terrorist attacks on the US. In Shenandoah a bronze monument recalls the miners, many who suffered tragic horrible deaths. The Robena Mine Explosion is remembered in Greene County with a Coal Miner's Monument. It recalls all miners but especially the 37 men who died during that explosion.

Those Places Thursday is a daily genealogy prompt by GeneaBloggers designed to feature places our ancestors may have spent time.

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