Westmoreland Review

Rep. Leslie Rossi will recognize recipients of the Medal of Honor by dedicating a bridge in their honor. The bridge, which carries State Route 711 over Loyalhanna Creek in Ligonier Township, will be named Sgt. Alvin P. Carey and Pvt. John C. Ewing Medal of Honor Memorial Bridge. The dedication event is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, at 11 a.m. at the Ligonier Valley Cemetery Chapel.

“We are paying tribute to the enduring spirit of two remarkable men from Westmoreland County who have served our nation with valor and distinction. I am grateful to everyone who made this deserving dedication possible," said Rossi.

Sgt. Alvin P. Carey enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1941. He landed in Normandy on June 7, 1944, with the Second Infantry Division. Despite being injured, awarded the Purple Heart, and returning to the fight, Carey was killed in action in France.

Pvt. John C. Ewing volunteered for service with the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry 211th on September 12, 1864, and played a significant role during the Civil War. He notably captured flags at the Battle of Five Forks, marking a pivotal moment leading to the fall of Richmond and the eventual surrender of the Northern Virginia Army.

Both Carey and Ewing were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their bravery.

Mark Sorice, serving as master of ceremonies and founder of the Ligonier Medal of Honor Project, will reference President John F. Kennedy during the event: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”

Other speakers include Rachel Duda, executive director of PennDOT District 12, Donna Jones and Jeffrey Craig, members of the Carey and Ewing families, respectively, and retired Lt. Col. Craig Minnick, founder of a scholarship in the names of Carey and Ewing.

The Medal of Honor has been awarded 3,536 times, with 380 attributed to Pennsylvania recipients, including two honors for William Wilson during the Indian Campaigns.