New building to be named for slain Marine

By Mary Grzebieniak

NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Lawrence County commissioners have agreed to name the county’s newest building after a Lawrence County man who died in the Iraq War.

They said Tuesday they will formally name the former Second Presbyterian Church on County Line Street the Albert P. Gettings Government Center. The former church building was purchased this year, and commissioners plan to convert it to office space.

Gettings was a Marine corporal who died Jan. 5, 2006, in combat in Fallujah, Iraq. He was a graduate of New Castle High School and had been in the service for 31‚Ñ2 years. His father, Lawrence County Controller David Gettings, presented the request to commissioners last week.

Commissioners also agreed to Gettings’ request that a room on the building’s second floor be designated as a veterans room to be used for an educational center with interactive kiosks about patriotism, veterans and other subjects.

“I want to perpetuate my son’s memory and honor veterans at the same time,” Gettings said. He said the theme of the room will be that one Marine or one person can make a difference.

Gettings said all costs of the room will be borne by the Albert P. Gettings Memorial Foundation, an organization that gives eight scholarships annually to New Castle High School and Lawrence County Career and Technical Center graduates and supports military-related efforts such as “Yellow Ribbon Girls” and “The Wounded Warrior Project,” which assist soldiers and veterans.

The group is supported by an annual golf tournament and other fundraisers. More information is available on the group’s Web site, www.albertgettings.com.

Gettings also told commissioners Thursday that the foundation purchased kitchen equipment, dishes and silverware that were in the church for $5,000 and is donating them to the county.