Navy Construction Team restores war memorial in downtown Youngstown

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Cleaning up a war memorial in the community is a project members of the Navy Construction Team don’t hesitate to tackle, said UT1 Richard Gaskill.

“We like to do things for the VA — help our brothers out,” said Gaskill.

Five members of the Navy Construction Team, part of Seabees Battalion 26 out of Vienna, helped restore the flags and plaques leading up to the War Memorial onCentral Square in downtown Youngstown on Sunday.

The Mahoning County Veterans Affairs office contacted the construction team and asked that its members replace the flag holders and clean up the memorial, said Gaskill.

Gaskill and his crew placed white vinyl along the sidewalk to act as new flag holders. The vinyl won’t rot and is weather friendly which makes for less maintenance, said Gaskill.

Plaques on the flags signify 24 wars in American history and also represent the different branches of the armed forces.

“Our war is out here too guys,” said Gaskill pointing out the Iraq War plaque to his fellow Seabees.

Other construction team members helping with the restoration were: BU3 Travis Ware; BUCA Alfonso Sierra III; CECN Kevin Miller; and BU1 Joseph Buzzelli.

“We like to get projects and help the community out with different things,” said Gaskill.