Ford City Lions Plan Memorial Eve Observance

by Jonathan Weaver and David Croyle

The Ford City Lions have once again made plans for a special service on the eve of Memorial Day, Sunday, May 29.

The service will take place at 10 PM in the Ford City Park. Street lights will be turned off and residents are urged to light candles on their porch, in a sense of nostalgia according to Councilman Marc Mantini.

“In the old days, flags were flown and almost every house had a candle. I hope this year we’re prepared and that the good citizens of the community remember the soldiers overseas and those who have died that make this country the great country it is – fly your flag and light your candle in memory of these people,” Mantini said.

Many years ago, the Lions Club would string speakers down the nearly one-mile stretch of land in Ford City so everyone could hear the service. Several years ago, the group attempted to utilize the fire department emergency speaker at the Ford City Borough Building, but found the sound quality inferior.

In 2011, the Lions Club teamed up with WTYM AM 1380 radio to broadcast the service live. The station plans to once again carrying the service live this year.

A member described the plan.

“We thought it would be great to set portable radios on their porch. And what they do is all the street lights are extinguished. It is one of the only towns around where you can shut the street lights off. It is a somber occasion with the candles. There are not as many candles as it used to be but I believe it is because the people just haven’t been able to hear and don’t even know it is going on. But now with the radio, if at least one person on the block will turn their radio up outside, then you could hear what’s going on in the park.”

The tradition was in jeopardy earlier this month before an agreement with First Energy.

State Representative Jeff Pyle explained what needed to be done.

“Due to the recent re-wiring of the entire Borough, complications arose requiring large engineering design changes to the park’s electrical service and West Penn Power made this happen,” Pyle said.

As part of the agreement with West Penn Power, the company will replace 21 LED lights in Ford City Park three years ahead of their normal replacement schedule at no financial cost. The lights will also reduce the Borough’s electric bill by nearly 30 percent each month.

Ford City Council Vice-President Tyson Klukan earlier this week explained Borough officials used to have to shut off power in three different locations, and the re-wiring no longer allowed West Penn to do so.

Representative Pyle will donate a 200-amp electrical service box for the event and will pay Master Electrician/Ford City resident David Kaczor for wiring.

“When this is all done, the Borough will have, for the first time, the ability to control the lights in the Park for whenever events like this arise,” Representative Pyle continued. “In prior practice, it was necessary to call West Penn Power each time to perform the needed actions to make the park dark.”

Two years ago, FirstEnergy Customer Support Specialist Doug Good approximated that the “unique” Ford City street lighting was set up in 1954.

At that time, Area Manager Rob Lombardo said updating the system could cost an additional $300 per year, but that FirstEnergy is willing to contribute about $1,500 annually toward community events – such as SummerFest, the Memorial Day Eve observance, etc. – and that future additional cost.

The FirstEnergy representatives and local residents agreed that some businesses leave their lights on during the annual service for security reasons and some residents or motorists still don’t understand the reasoning for the event.

But, Ford City Lions representatives at the work session supported FirstEnergy’s recommended plan and hope to make the community aware of the service and get more participation.

Ford City Lions King Lion Brad Baillie was grateful that the 50-plus year tradition will continue.

“For more than 50 years, the Ford City Lions Club has conducted our Memorial Day service on the Sunday night prior,” Baillie said. “When faced last week with the possibility that we could not darken the park for the Memorial Service, West Penn Power recognized the importance to our town and really stepped up.

The Lions Club is very grateful for their deeds.”

While the entire borough will not go dark Sunday night, lights part of the independent lighting system (in the Borough park, on 3rd Avenue and on 4th Avenue) will be shut off.

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