‘Hometown Heroes’ project planned in Canton [The Daily Review, Towanda, Pa.]

Oct. 16--CANTON -- Borough council this week listened to plans for the "Canton Hometown Heroes" local veteran recognition project in the Canton Area School District.

Mary Saunders, who is one of the organizers of the project, told council that it's "growing by leaps and bounds."

Saunders, Rich Porter, Blake Morgan, and Georgeanna Dunbar and veterans Leo Seachrist, Harry Crawford and Bud Porter attended the meeting and provided information about their plans. Rich Porter serves as president of the group and was the main speaker for the citizens at the meeting.

The proposed project is divided into two parts -- a "Hometown Heroes" banner project, similar to the one in Towanda, and a monument honoring veterans.

"We feel the ones (banners) down in Towanda are great, but they need to be displayed locally," Saunders said.

The streets proposed for the banners are Troy Street, from the borough line all the way to the red light; from the red light down Sullivan Street to Springbrook Drive to the Pump 'n Pantry; East Main Street, from the red light to the high school entrance; and South Minnequa Avenue, from around McCallum Manor to the bottom of Lake Hill. The banners would be placed on utility poles on these streets.

The banners will honor anyone who currently lives or has lived within the Canton Area School District boundaries.

There is no location for the monument yet.

"We're still looking," Rich Porter told council president Ken Robertson.

Robertson asked whether it would be in the complex by the War Memorial Park. "That's what we'd like," Rich Porter said.

The monument would honor veterans who attended any of the schools in the Canton Area School District. This includes all the former schools in the district, such as the ones in Leroy, Ralston, Grover, Ogdensburg, etc.

Saunders said the goal is to have a dedication for the banners on Memorial Day weekend 2014. The monument, however, "is definitely going to take some time," she said.

The group had display boards at the Fall Fling in Canton recently with photos of veterans, which had already been sent in.

Saunders has talked to Frontier, which has identified their poles and the Penelec poles. She is seeking to get a user agreement from both utility companies to use the poles for the banners. Liability insurance is also required on the banners.

The group was seeking permission from the council to hang the banners on the telephone poles and proceed with the project.

Council indicated that it would talk to the council solicitor and get back to the group at the next meeting. The chamber of commerce was also mentioned, and Saunders said she will get in touch with the chamber.

For more information about the project, call Rich Porter at 570-673-8506 or visit the "Canton, Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial" page on Facebook. All the photos that were sent in are on the Facebook page, with information.

Saunders said they would work with anyone who could get them information for the project, and photos can be dropped off at the local newspaper or the American Legion or VFW as well as Rich Porter's house at 137 Lycoming St., Canton. She said they just need the photos long enough to scan them in, and they are then returned to the owner.

Donations and fundraising will pay for the project.

Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; email: [email protected].

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