Dennis Makovsky, commander at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7293, Egypt, wants the community to step up and make a proposed memorial a reality. The memorial would pay tribute to all veterans in the township and surrounding towns.

While progress has been made at three meetings held at the Egypt post over the last several months, Makovsky believes the informal committee is at a standstill and unable to move forward.

“We need an engineer, surveyor, people,” Makovsky related at the Sept. 9 meeting.

Fullerton American Legion Post 367, the Egypt VFW post, Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners President Linda Snyder and Commissioner Gerard Palagonia - the same group from the outset - attended the meeting. The Hokendauqua-based American Legion Post 739 has not been represented.

Meeting participants said attendance is low, compared to when the township meeting hall was packed with veterans and citizens upset over the flying of the Syrian flag in place of the POW-MIA flag.

The group’s desire is to have a central location for the American flag and a monument to honor all veterans. The large grass plot in front of the municipal building would accomplish such a purpose, it was suggested. A large flag pole would be erected to fly the American flag. Branches of the military - Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps - and POW-MIA would be represented with pennants.

A gazebo has already been donated and $1,500 in donations have been pledged toward the project.

A fundraising drive needs to be established, said Makovsky, who expressed frustration that the project and support for it are not progressing as expected.

In fact, Makovsky pushed up the October meeting one week earlier. It will be held 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7 at the Egypt VFW, 5209 Springmill Road. He wants to spark momentum and see new attendees, who could bring something to the table that will spur activity.

Makovsky hopes to have everything in place for Memorial Day 2016.