New Castle Marine killed in Iraq to be honored
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Mohawk Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 267 plans to honor fallen solider Marine Cpl. Albert P. Gettings during a ceremony Thursday at the New Castle Senior High School fieldhouse.
Gettings, a New Castle graduate, died in January after being hit by sniper fire while leading a patrol in Fallujah, Iraq. He was 27.
The post's memorial dedication committee plans to begin the 15-minute ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Formal invitations will be sent to immediate family members and elected officials, but the program is open to the public.
The post also plans to donate a memorial plaque to the high school in tribute to Gettings for the fieldhouse common area.
Earlier this year, city council agreed to name a baseball field at Gunton Park on North Hill in remembrance of Gettings, who played baseball for New Castle High School and lived on North Hill.
Councilwoman Christine Sands explained that several of Gettings' neighbors approached her about memorializing him. Because he was a baseball fan she felt it is appropriate to name a field in his honor and to place a plaque or nameplate at the field.
A dedication for the field is planned for later this spring.