On this Veterans Day, I am reminded of sacrifices made.  I have scanned and loaded two newspaper articles dated Oct 1942 about a cannon that had been standing in the town square Georgetown since shortly after the Civil War.  One article identified as a “Special to the Review”  stated that the cannon had been installed as a monument 78 year earlier.  In Oct 1942 the Georgetown town council, like many other small towns, had voted to donate the relic to help relieve the national shortage of scrap metal.   

Civil War Cannon Memorial (Newspaper Clips dated Oct1942)

The historic cannon, forged in Pittsburgh, was transported from the Pittsburgh Arsenal by packet to Line Island where is was to be used to defend Pittsburgh from Gen John Hunt Morgan and his cavalry.  When word reached Georgetown that Morgan’s Raiders were in eastern Ohio on Sunday 26 Jul 1863, the ferry boat was scuttled, women were told to secret their valuables and take their children to a safe place, and the roads were filled with men on horseback riding to defend Georgetown, PA .  It was reported that you could hear gun fire all over the county. 

After many anxious hours, the Georgetown heroes learned that Morgan had been captured a mere 25 miles away near Lisbon, OH.

The Georgetown people sacrificed the cannon and its bit of history to help their sons and daughters serving in WW II.  That was fitting and proper.

Today, I want to thank all veterans of all wars for your service and sacrafice.

Copyright © 2013 Francis W Nash
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