The Lawndale+Crescentville=Lawncrest Beautification Committee on Saturday held a cleanup near the veterans monuments in the grove next to Lawncrest Library, 6098 Rising Sun Ave.
A day earlier, the city held a groundbreaking ceremony for upcoming renovations to the library. The Lawncrest Recreation Center will also see renovations in the near future.
On Saturday, Heather Miller organized the cleanup. Among those who attended were state Rep. Anthony Bellmon and Linwood Holland, Republican leader of the 35th Ward and the GOP candidate for register of wills in Tuesday’s election.
Volunteers planted and added new soil, beautified a wreath, placed new American flags, cut high grass and removed broken glass, bottles, dirt and leaves. In all, they filled 17 trash bags, boxes and cans.
Engine 64 firefighters replaced the tattered American flag on the grove pole and hung a new flag on the pole near the playground. The flags were donated by Bellmon and state Sen. Tina Tartaglione, and organizers thanked Jose from PECO Energy for his help.
The grove features three monuments. One, dedicated on July 4, 1945, honors the 2,000-plus Lawndale and Crescentville residents who served in World War II. A second, also dedicated on July 4, 1945, honors local World War I veterans. The third honors veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars, Operation Desert Storm and the Global War on Terrorism. ••