Parish burnishing image of fallen WWII veterans

A lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs and parishioner of St. Peter's Church, Mr. Corsale recalled how George Biffer's family ran a grocery store in the city, and how James McGirr's family owned a clothing store and his father was active in the parish. The Italian-American War Veterans' Post in the city is named for another deceased veteran, Joseph Smaldone.

Engraved memories

That's why the parish and the U.S.S. Saratoga Reunion Committee have joined residents and businesses in the city to raise funds to restore the monument, the only World War II memorial in Saratoga Springs, and to refresh people's memory of its presence.

"A lot of people just forgot about it over the years, but hopefully if we get it restored a little bit, it will be more prominent and more outstanding," Mr. Corsale told The Evangelist.

Installation

The monument, which once featured a statue of Our Lady of Peace flanked by angels, includes the names of the 18 parishioners who died in "The Great Global War," as World War II is described on the memorial.

The Latin phrase "Pro Deo Et Patria," or "For God and Country," is inscribed above the names, which are engraved on bronze plaques.

A civic leader and owner of the old Congress Theater, Mr. Benton donated the $5,000 monument because "he probably wanted to remember the men from the parish who died," according to Rev. Robert LeFevre, pastor.

Passing time

Over the years, the monument has shown signs of its age, but Saratoga residents -- and even parishioners -- might not know the extent of the damage -- or even the fact that there is such a monument, Mr. Corsale noted.

"A lot of people don't know it's there because it's pretty well covered up," he said, referring to trees that have grown around the monument.

Renewal

Veterans who served on the aircraft carrier Saratoga, which originally was used during World War II, held their nationwide reunion in Saratoga Springs last year. They had raised money to refurbish its bell and display it permanently in the Saratoga Battlefield, and they agreed to contribute some of the money that remained from that drive to restore St. Peter's monument.

About $11,000 is needed to complete restoration of the monument, Father LeFevre said. Work includes cleaning and polishing the bronze plaques bearing the names of the veterans, replacing the missing statue of Our Lady of Peace, restoring broken pieces, removing trees around the monument, and replacing a stockade fence behind the monument with a masonry wall.

Members of the U.S.S. Saratoga Reunion Committee have raised almost $3,500 since November through donations from businesses and residents; another $5,000 from a bequest to the parish is being used for the project, which should begin in spring and be completed by the Fourth of July. Mr. Corsale hopes to have a re-dedication of the monument and use the original sermon delivered by Father Killion at the 1946 ceremony.

(Contributions to St. Peter's World War II Memorial Restoration can be made to: U.S.S. Saratoga Committee, c/o Ralph Flinton, Treasurer, City Accounts Department/City Hall, Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.)

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