Veteran’s Memorial Dedication – The Upper Pottsgrove Journal

UPPER POTTSGROVE—On May 17th at 10:00 a.m., Upper Pottsgrove Township will dedicate their Veteran’s Memorial located at 1420 Heather Place. The project was long in coming. The Open Space and Recreations Board recommended the project on May 8th, 2018, to the Board of Commissioners with the Board following through with the approval of the project on May 21st, 2018. The flag dedication was on October 9th, 2021.

Flag Dedication, Oct 9th, 2021. Left to Right, Open Space & Rec Member Sherry Paup, Commissioner Cathy Paretti, Chief Jim Fisher, Commissioner Trace Slinkerd, Committee Chairman Dennis Elloitt, Commissioner Hank Llewelyn, Senator Bob Mensch, Open Space & Rec Member Chuck Note , Committee Member Ty Robinson

The approval of the project included the memorial design as well as the site location at Heather Place Park with an estimated cost of the project at $30,715. The Township established and then charged the veterans committee with shepherding the project. Dennis Elliott (Navy) chairs the committee with primary committee veteran members Hank Llewelyn (Army), Ty Robinson (Army), Scott Wagner (Navy), and Trace Slinkerd (Army).

Veterans Dennis Elliott, Trace Slinkerd, Hank Llewelyn after the flagpole went up

Trace Slinkerd designed the memorial as well as calculated the cost estimate; Dennis Elliott worked the toughest task of the project: fund raising. As parts of the memorial (electrical equipment, flagpole) arrived, committee members work the instillation at the site.

Greg Churach works the final touches to the flagpole

Special people added critical expertise to the completion of the project as well. Open Space Chairman Greg Churach provided his expertise in installing the lighting system and the flag pole and Township Manger Michelle Reddick assisted in identifying funding sources and administrative support.

To get to the little over $30,000 for the memorial, Dennis Elloitt worked diligently with several organizations and activities. He partnered with Gofus Memorial to reserve the stones for the project with Gofus providing the stones at a great discount and, with Reddick’s help, Elliott utilized bingo to raise funds. He also worked with Hopewell Community Church and with Community Day Events to secure donations. Finally, in 2025, the committee, under Elliott’s leadership and energy, met its financial goal and completed the project.

The memorial is on a circular base with the primary stone in the center with the national flag behind it. Surrounding the primary stone are five stones representing the five military services with the accompanying service flag mounted behind each stone. On both the left and right, just after the entrance to the memorial, are two dedicated benches. The final cost of the project, $33,000.