Veterans Volume Book gives service histories
VALENCIA — When Buzz Kelly and the Valencia Historical Society began their effort two years ago, the goal was to create a log of veterans who have lived in southwestern Butler County.
Initially, the goal was to collect names for a proposed monument. The monument never materialized, but the idea of collecting names stuck.
The theme of the project was "Lest We Forget."
The historical group originally planned to log the information in binders and have it available for viewing at its office in the basement of the Valencia Borough Building.
The list includes veterans as far back as the early colonial wars, beginning with the King Philip's War in 1675 and continuing through the present Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
The group over the past two years was able to collect more than 500 pages of information about local veterans.
The logbook covers Adams, Middlesex, Cranberry, Penn, Jackson and Forward townships as well as Mars and Valencia boroughs. But information from outside this region also is included.
Kelly, a Mars resident and member of the historical society, said as the collecting process went on, people began asking how they could get a copy of the information collected.
Because of that interest, the historical society decided to put a book together, which is now completed and available.
"People are very thankful we did this. They had never thought they'd see a project like this," said Buzz's wife, Shirley, describing the reaction the book has already received.
Kelly explained the book, also titled "Lest We Forget," is a 239-page volume that is divided into three sections.
The first is devoted to the 139 biographies and stories that were submitted by veterans, parents and friends.
The second section contains the military service announcements that were published in the Butler Eagle.
The third section includes veterans' published obituaries sent in by friends and families.
Kelly said the group plans to donate books to Mars Public Library, the Mars High School library and the Mars Historical Society.
The group is still seeking information on veterans for a supplement it hopes to publish in the next two years. The supplement can list anything from just a name to war stories.
The society can accept information by mail, e-mail or telephone.
To submit information on veterans or to order a book, call 724-625-2215 or 724-625-9176.
Butler County residents are prolific writers, as demonstrated by the following publications.• "Oil on the Brain" subtitled The Discovery of Oil and the Excitement of the Boom in NW PA, about areas in Butler, Armstrong, Clarion and Venango counties is in its third edition. The book is by Gary S. McKinney.This history of the northwestern Pennsylvania oil boom of the late 1800s discusses stories and people behind boom towns such as Parker City, Martinsburg (now Bruin), Karns City, Petrolia City and Millerstown (now Chicora). The 581-page book includes 30 lithographs, 91 photographs and 15 maps.Cost is $44.95. Call Mechling Bookbindery at 800-941-3735.———• "Questions for a Tree and Selected Poems" is by the late Pascal J. Schaller, a Capuchin Franciscan friar who served in the Butler and Pittsburgh areas for 60 years. He wrote more than 1,500 poems in his lifetime, some of which are included in the 67 pages of this softcover book. The works include "Questions for a Tree" and "I Need a Crucifix."Cost is $12, and copies are available by calling RoseDog Books at 800-834-1803.———• J.B. Struzzi, Allegheny County resident and former Butler Eagle reporter, is the published author of "The Christmas Secret," a 104-page young adult novel released by Mirror Publishing of Milwaukee, Wisc.The paperback relates the story of 7-year-old Josh who has prepared quite a wish list for Christmas. When he learns his father lost his job and there won't be as many presents, he believes Christmas will be awful despite his parent's efforts. But that's before something magical happens.Cost is $12, and the paperback is available online from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders and in regional book stores. The book also is available from the author by calling 412-319-7907.———• A family history of the Caleb and Sarah Brown family that moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania in the late 1790s has been compiled in a 550-page, hard-bound book. The book includes documents such as land, census and military records and family photos. Author William M. Brown has copies available for $54.95 plus shipping and handling.Send an e-mail to wmbrown@hotmail.com.———• The Clive Aliston series about a county sheriff features a book with settings in Butler County. The novels "Forever Man" and "Tale of the Scorpion," the one set in Butler County, are by C. William Davis III and published by Word Association in Tarentum. The books are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders as well as from the author by calling 724-989-2802. Cost is $16.95.———• "When Buddie Sings" by Stephenie A. Freed of Butler is a story about a couple's journey from early marriage to parenthood. The author wishes to share how the family grows together and the different avenues that the couple pursues to find their family by going through the foster-care system and adoption processes and dealing with medical and emotional issues.The 128-page softcover book costs $19.95 and is available at publishamerica.com———• "The Orchestration" by John Weaver of Harrisville tells the story of the tragic events in Jobe's life as written by the character Jobe. It tells of fictional characters come to life and warns of the danger of drugs to an unstable mind. The 75-page softcover book is $16.95 and is available at publishamerica.com.
