Better times at 'Soldiers Circle'

I'm so glad the war over Soldier's Circle is over.

On Sept. 24, the Soldiers Circle Veterans Association held its first meeting, attended by 30 members.

They conducted a typical meeting, talked about new business, agreed to have an election of officers in June and passed several by-laws.

Most importantly, the group voted to distance itself from "all past public statements which caused ill feelings concerning the Soldiers Circle." They also ordered themselves to communicate with the Shamokin Cemetery Committee so they can agree on any Soldiers Circle project "in good taste and creative class to this historic military site" before work begins.

I'm so pleased.

When Sol Bidding, association secretary/treasurer, first called The News-Item with the idea to fix up Soldiers Circle, I thought it was great idea. Bidding said a young volunteer had been saddened by the state of the tombstones and flag pole, as well as the lack of an American flag, and asked Bidding what could be done. A group of volunteers, many from the General Community Service program, got to work. The News-Item did a few stories and took a few photos of what should have been a positive community project. It wasn't long, however, before we learned of the dark side of this endeavor. Every day, there was another article in the paper, from one side or the other, and the discussion was getting very intense.

It was a classic battle over territory, something that probably had the veterans in Soldiers Circle spinning in their graves, and that's what irked me most of all. Both sides made good points, but it seemed impossible for them to work together. The entire situation was making a mockery of sacred ground.

A lot of the noise came from arguments over who was allowed to do what and where. Andy Garancosky, president of the cemetery committee and caretaker of the grounds, said the association hadn't contacted him before getting to work, which could have been a liability. Anyone who is hurt while at the cemetery could sue, and the committee doesn't have the funds to cover such a lawsuit.

Bidding and association Vice President Tim Vincent claimed the circle was the responsibility of the county, not the cemetery committee, thanks to a 1991 citation from then-commissioner the late James P. Kelley. Bidding and Vincent had no intention of backing down from what they considered a noble cause.

"We (veterans) established that area and we aren't leaving it," Bidding said in an interview with staff writer Larry Deklinski.

Not long after Bidding and Vincent made reference to the citation at a meeting, I spoke with Garancosky, who has been mowing the law on the circle for four years.

He pointed out that while 200 veterans are buried in the circle, 674 more are buried throughout the cemetery. The circle is an important part of military and community history, but so are the other graves. He reminded me that the cemetery committee has been doing its best to take care of all the graves, including the circle, and to show respect for all the veterans in Shamokin Cemetery. They mow the grass, attempt to upright vandalized tombstones and place flags on the graves of veterans on July 4 and other holidays, even though a lack of funds limits their projects.

In a matter of months, the Soldiers Circle Veterans Association raised more than $1,000, and both groups are looking into grants.

It's only natural that they would work together.

The association's order to check themselves is an important step in the right direction, and I look forward to seeing how much they can accomplish in conjunction with the committee and community. There are plans to rededicate the circle on Memorial Day, and I hope it's an event that everyone can be proud of.

(Nicolov, an assistant editor at The News-Item, writes "Don't Get Me Started" for each Friday edition. She can be reached at julie_n@newsitem.com)