Some things in life are worth remembering. That’s why we mark important dates on the calendar or write notes to remind us of our obligations. We just can’t afford to forget what we value most.
And, says Ron Bogolea, we can’t afford to forget the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. That’s why he’s placing war memorials in several Beaver County townships, including Chippewa.
Ron is hoping to erect four memorials in total near community gathering places such as outdoor parks and sports fields. There, Ron says, we’ll pass the memorials in a familiar setting; a setting where you’ll frequently see members of all generations, and where people can pause, discuss, and honor veterans.
The memorials will provide their visitors with an educational opportunity, too, because every site will have a story board that relates a piece of Beaver County’s military history. It could be the founding of Fort McIntosh, or the work of our historic Curtiss-Wright propeller plant during World War II. According to Ron, there are countless stories to explore.
“There’s just a whole lot of history here,” he explained. He also expressed a desire to share that history with others.
In the spirit of sharing, Ron has designed the story boards to be removable. They’ll be passed between memorial grounds so that visitors will have a chance to see them all without making a trip to each site.
Besides these rotating story boards, there will be other, more permanent boards. They will display the biography of a soldier from Beaver County who gave his life during the war on terror. That leads us to the event which – in the mind of Ron Bogolea – started this entire project.
On November 27, 2018, Ron’s grandson died in Afghanistan when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. In the wake of his death, many mourned the loss of Dylan Elchin – a bright star in the community and a brave protector of liberty abroad.
His grandson’s untimely death planted a seed of inspiration in Ron’s heart, and over the next few months, an idea took root. Ron resolved that Dylan and his sacrifice should not be forgotten. This idea became a mission that will anchor the legacy of other service men in memorial stone; specifically, paver stone bricks.
These bricks, all engraved with a veteran’s name, will act as a patio platform at each memorial site. The named veteran may be living or deceased, local or from afar. All may be included so long as a member of the community sponsors that brick.
Ron would like to see families from the area use these bricks to teach their children about the importance of fighting for freedom. He’s already seen the power of such lessons on children from the testimony of a family friend.
This friend, who knew the Elchins through Dylan’s brother, Aaron, was driving with her son and two daughters to their grandmother’s house. On the way there, they had to cross what used to be called the Vanport Bridge.
Earlier this year, it was renamed the USAF Combat Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin Memorial Bridge, thanks to the combined efforts of Ron, State Senator Vogel, State Representative Kain, and Governor Wolf. Now,the bridge is an architectural testimony to the memory of this beloved Beaver County Resident.
As the family drove near, one of the daughters noticed that the bridge had been given a new sign. She asked her mother what it meant, and the mother gently explained to her young passengers that Dylan Elchin had fought and died to protect our freedom.
Later, when the caravan came back to the bridge on their way home, one of the little girls rolled down her car window and yelled, ‘Thank you Dylan Elchin for our freedom!’
That is the sort of moment Ron wants to provide for other families in Beaver County.
As he puts it, “You can take [your child] to the war memorial and say, ‘This is a record of your great grandfather’s service in World War I,’ and it’ll give the child an attachment,” to that special heritage.
Since February, Ron has been working hard to make those moments a reality, contacting local businesses to raise awareness and monetary funds. “We’re taking donations,” he says, and all of the money goes straight to a third-party charity that handles payment for the memorials.
“No one is receiving a penny out of this,” he’ll assure you. This just isn’t about profit.
It’s about thanking, honoring, and never, ever forgetting.
If you want to learn more about the memorials, sponsor a brick, or make a donation, you can visit the project website, bthtwarmemorial. com. There, you can also find contact information for Ron Bogolea himself, who welcomes any questions or discussion about the memorials.
