BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – The Pickering Street Bridge in Brookville was renamed on Thursday to honor a World War II veteran.
[PICTURED ABOVE: Family of the late James (Jim) Slagle. Photos courtesy Randy Bartley.]
During a ceremony held on Thursday, June, 20, the bridge was renamed Corporal James Slagle Memorial Bridge to honor the late hometown hero.
The idea to rename the bridge was originated by members of the Brookville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2014 and the Brookville Laurel Festival.
Randy Bartley – Brookville Borough Councilperson and a member of the Brookville V.F.W – told to exploreJeffersonpa.com that “(Slagle) was a member of the Second Battalion U.S. Army Rangers.”
“The reason we did it this year is because it’s the 75th anniversary of D-Day,” Bartley added
Being a member of the Second Battalion U.S. Army Rangers put Slagle on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.
He was injured seven times before he reached the beach, according to Bartley.
“Jim was in rehab for 18 months at a hospital in England before he was discharged,” Bartley explained.
Upon his discharge, Slagle moved to Brookville where he opened and operated Slagle’s Ice Cream Shop that is located near the bridge that was renamed in his honor.
Slagle, who was very active in the Brookville V.F.W. Post 2014, started the Brookville Main Street Flag association. This association is responsible for the flags that line the streets of Brookville, honoring American veterans from the area.
“Jim thought it was appropriate that flags lined every light pole on the Main Street,” Barley said.
“Jim Slagle would get up every morning and walk Main Street making sure the flags were flying straight,” Bartley noted, emphasizing the lasting impact that these flags have had.
“We still are flying those flags today,” he added.
According to Bartley, the bridge was renamed after Slagle “not only because of what he endured, but because of his lasting impact on the community.”
Several elected officials including, Jefferson County Commissioner Jeff Pisarcik, attended the ceremony to speak on Thursday.
“Being a son of a veteran, I think it was a huge honor to the Slagle family to recognize their father/grandfather to recognize his community service,” Pisarcik said.
Thursday was also the groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial commemorating those killed in action in World War II and numerous other wars since.
“This is a three-year project,” Bartley said.
The memorial will eventually consist of three parts. One part will honor those killed in action in World War II; one part will honor those killed in action during the Vietnam and Korean conflicts; and the third part will honor those killed in action in the Persian Gulf conflicts.
The project is entirely funded by Jefferson County.
The World War II portion of the monument will be officially dedicated to those killed in action on September 13.
The Brookville V.F.W. Post 2014 is urging those who believe they have loved ones lost in action who should be on these monuments to reach out to the Jefferson County Department of Veterans Affairs.
Their office is located at 155 Main Street, Brookville, and they can also be reached at 814-849-3618.
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