- Last Updated on Friday, 31 October 2025 16:46
The Monessen War Veterans Memorial Trust came about from an idea by Steve Major Sr., who shared it with then Judge Gilfert Mihalich. It was then proposed to the membership of the Thomas McKee American Legion Post 28 and the Allison Lescanac Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1190 in May of 2011.
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The first Commanders and Adjutants responsible for initiating the Trust were Gregory Dacko, and Wayne Vlasic, American Legion and James Pallini and John Cheroki, VFW, along with the members of both organizations. Judge Mihalich and John Billy were instrumental in preparing all the legal aspects of the Trust and the By-Laws were written with input from all members of both organizations. Sadly all but three of the original group are now deceased, but also need to be remembered as the founders of the Trust.
The three remaining, living members, Gregory Dacko, James Pallini and Wayne Vlasic were honored with plaques at individual presentations by the current Chairman of the Trust Ron Chromulak, to recognize them for their service to the Trust and the City of Monessen. They are our Outstanding Veterans. The plaques were donated by an anonymous donor.
One of the objectives of the Monessen War Veterans Memorial Trust is to instill patriotism in our youth by perpetuating the names and memories of the Monessen War Veterans thereby indelibly inscribing the names of those Veterans in the history of the United States of America.
The veterans’ organizations were concerned that future maintenance, cleaning and repair would be neglected thus desecrating the memories of the Monessen War Veterans, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice. The trust was established for the preservation of and the maintaining, repairing and cleaning only the war memorials located in Monessen at the Island in the East Gate section, the Honor Roll the Sherman Tank and the numerous memorial plaques located in the City park, the memorial plaque at the stadium, the Keystone memorial at 12th Street and the memorial plaque at City Hall. Those are the only bonafide war memorials, established by the Veterans Organizations, all other memorials are either private or belong to other organizations.
Anyone wishing to donate to the trust can make out their check to, and send their donation to: Monessen War Veterans Memorial Trust, P O Box 145, Monessen, Pa. 15062
