Restored Brackenridge war memorial, 'The Arch,' to be rededicated May 27

Larry Chifulini had his wedding picture taken there in 1961.

His grandchildren have played around it in Brackenridge Memorial Park. High school students flock to it for prom and graduation photos.

Chifulini thought it would take as long as 10 years to get the money to clean and restore the war memorial standing in the park on the bank of the Allegheny River. But with the support of the community, which stepped up in a big way, it's been done in just two years.

“I'm elated,” said Chifulini, vice president of the nonprofit Brackenridge Improvement Group. “This is really a dream come true.”

The 77-year-old memorial, known as “The Arch,” will be rededicated during Memorial Day services beginning at 1 p.m. May 27.

More than $30,000 has been given to clean and restore the memorial. The project's total cost is about $35,000; Chifulini said they're just about $3,000 shy of having it all.

Donations were vital, because when they started, “We had zero,” he said.

“The community responded. I was overwhelmed,” he said.

Other groups that have been instrumental in the memorial's refurbishment include the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion and the Integrity Lodge, an Italian club.

The borough helped where it could but didn't have much cash to give, said Councilman Dino Lopreiato, president of the improvement group.

The memorial stands in Brackenridge Memorial Park, which is adjacent to the river between Cherry and Morgan streets. First filled with slag from Allegheny Steel — “as recently as 1936,” according to one borough history book — it was transformed into a park by the Works Progress Administration, according to the Tarentum Times history book.

While some believe it's a World War II memorial, it's not, said Chifulini, an Army veteran. It went up in June 1941 — before the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II.

Its designer was William A. Fischer, the borough's equivalent of a mayor at the time, who modeled it after the insignia of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The plaques on its twin columns proclaim it is dedicated “to all who fought to establish and preserve our nation” and “to liberty, justice and equality.”

Emblazoned with the message “Lest we forget” across its connecting arch, the memorial itself was in need of remembrance.

The limestone blocks had been blackened by grime and soot. There was water damage. The steps were uneven and falling apart, with crack sealant snaking across its base.

“It looked terrible,” Lopreiato said.

Planning for the work started in 2015. It was sandblasted, re-pointed and sealed last year. The bronze plaques were refurbished.

Replacement of the memorial's base, the final phase of its restoration, was completed.

The new base includes holes for flags.

“I think that will be a really nice addition,” Lopreiato said.

With the castle memorial finished, Chifulini said the group plans next to work on the neighboring honor roll memorial, which features names of veterans of World War I, World War II and the Korean War.

According to a book on Brackenridge's 75th anniversary in 1976, the honor roll memorial was dedicated May 29, 1965, about four years after efforts for it began. At that time, it had the names of 1,184 veterans.

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCRittmeyer.