Students volunteer time, talents to reward vets' sacrifice
Published 12.07.2021
Members of Pennsylvania College of Technology's ConCreate Design Club recently completed cosmetic repairs to the base of the massive Global Conflicts for Peace and Freedom monument at the Lycoming County Veterans Memorial Park on the corner of Wahoo Drive and West Fourth Street in Williamsport.
The project was researched and the appropriate techniques were employed to complete the job, said Harry W. Hintz Jr., instructor of construction technology, who assisted club members at the site.
"The work by the group started in the daylight and was finished under the glow of the security lighting," he said. "The coordinator of the project for the veterans group reported that he was very pleased with the results."
The club also cut and placed brick pavers surrounding the A-6E Intruder, a former Navy jet donated to the college in 1996 and moved to the memorial park in October 2020. Another group of students, part of Hintz's Concrete Construction class (BCT238), installed 150 feet of sidewalk around the aircraft during the semester-long service project.
Students from a variety of specialties – concrete science, masonry and site preparation, among them – have for several years assisted memorial organizers in nurturing their sprawling tribute into reality.
"We all really love helping out at the memorial. It's really great to give back to the local community since we spend so much time here for school," said Madison L. Kistler, of Kutztown, a surveying technology alumna who is pursuing degrees in concrete science technology and applied technology studies. "Williamsport is such an interesting city, and it's awesome that we students can be a part of making it better and sharing it with everyone."
She has nothing but praise for Hintz, both as an instructor and as a mentor for the club, and for the volunteers behind the Newberry veterans park.
"The memorial itself is one-of-a-kind, and the amount of effort that goes into keeping it like that is truly amazing to see," Kistler said.
Photo provided