(The Center Square) – Amid the tributes to Pennsylvania’s war veterans on the Capitol complex grounds in Harrisburg, a new monument will soon be added: one honoring the families who bear the profound loss of loved ones who gave their lives in service to the country.
Act 145 of 2024, signed into law last month by Gov. Josh Shapiro, authorizes the construction of a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.
Rep. Joseph Kerwin, R-Elizabethtown, introduced House Bill 71 in March 2023 and was deployed to eastern Africa with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard when it passed the House by unanimous vote this April.
The Senate passed the measure on a 48-0 vote in November and sent it to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk to be signed into law.
“I’ve been working on this memorial project for several years and am thankful my fellow lawmakers saw the importance of permanently installing this monument on Capitol grounds,” Kerwin said in a press release.
“It is important these grieving families have a place to gather, reflect, pray and share in fellowship with one another,” he added. “The memorial would be a permanent fixture honoring the sacrifices of not only our fallen men and women in uniform, but also their loved ones.”
The monument’s design has four black granite slabs with the words, “Gold Star Family Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Mothers, Fathers, and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom,” featured on one side, with four scenes depicting “Homeland, Patriot, Family and Sacrifice” on each panel on the other side.
It will be located east of the Irvis Office Building and erected by the Woody Williams Foundation and MI Charitable Foundation at no cost to taxpayers.
The MI Charitable Foundation has accepted responsibility for the monument’s construction and ongoing maintenance, and the Department of General Services has indicated it anticipates only minor related costs that can be accomplished within its existing general operations budget.
Pennsylvania Gold Star Mothers Carol Resh and Nancy Smith are pleased about the news.
Resh’s son, U.S. Army Captain Mark Resh, a Silver Star Recipient, was an Apache helicopter pilot who was killed in action during combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007.
“The monuments are beautiful, and it means a lot to the families that the fallen aren’t forgotten,” Resh told The Center Square.
“And, hopefully, people will go and visit them and understand what Gold Star Families are, and the sacrifices they’ve made – because, as you know, a lot of people don’t,” she added.
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua B. Smith, an Afghanistan veteran, served for eight years and was honorably discharged in 2011. In 2012, he took his own life due to PTSD and traumatic brain injury connected to his service.
In an email to The Center Square, Smith said, “Having a Gold Star Memorial placed at the Capital where we can Gather, Honor, and Remember our Precious Lost Heroes means so much to us.”
The Smiths, she continued, want to thank Rep. Kerwin for his service, and for “taking care of our PA Gold Star Families and our Angels, from the bottom of our Hearts!”
To date, the Woody Williams Foundation is responsible for establishing 141 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments across the United States – with more than 46 additional monuments underway in 50 states and 1 U.S. Territory.
The Harrisburg monument will be the fourth to be erected in the state, along with Central PA (Williamsport), Valley Forge, and Washington Crossing monuments.
