Sewickley park finally may get namesake memorial

War Memorial Park on Blackburn Road in Sewickley soon might finally have its war memorial.

"We call it War Memorial Park and there was a reason it was named that, but yet there is no outward sign that it is a war memorial park," said Carole Ford, Sewickley councilwoman.

One local group hopes to change that with a tribute to the Sewickley-area members of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of black pilots who fought in World War II as the 332nd Fighter Group of the Army Air Corps. They were the first black military aviators in the armed forces.

Of the 89 Tuskegee Airmen from the Pittsburgh area, eight were from the Sewickley area. Of those eight, five became pilots and four saw overseas combat.

Regis Bobonis Sr., a member of the Daniel B. Matthew Historical Society, which is leading the effort, said a circular memorial would sit on the first parcel to the right of the entrance to War Memorial Park. It would feature two mourning benches -- traditions of the black church -- an honor roll with names of all Western Pennsylvania Tuskegee Airmen, and eight trees, or one for each of the local pilots: brothers Robert and Mitchell Higginbotham, James Addison, Curtis Branch, William Johnston Curtis Jr., William Gilliam, Frank Hailstock Jr. and William Allen Johnston.

"Our hope is that these funds will come from a variety of public and private philanthropic sources," said Joyce Jones, president of the historical society. "I know we will do all we can with our volunteers -- fish fries, bake sales, pancake breakfasts and a major fund-raising project around Thanksgiving."

According to the historical society, the memorial has been a long time in the making. A contractor was retained five years ago to help create a legacy tribute to the Sewickley Tuskegee Airmen, but the project was put on hold because of the economy.

The proposal included a multimedia aviation career development center and exhibit, as well as a commissioned mural and landscaping, including a memorial in War Memorial Park.

Jones told council last month that the Higginbothams, the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen from the area, will serve as co-chairs of the fund-raising effort. A fund-raising goal and costs will be announced later this month. The campaign will kick off April 1.