PRINTER'S NO. 518
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
68
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BREWSTER, COSTA, MARTIN, FONTANA, BOSCOLA, HUGHES,
STREET, BARTOLOTTA, PHILLIPS-HILL AND DUSH, MARCH 28, 2023
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MARCH 28, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the LaRosa Boys and Girls Club for dedicating the
earliest-known Vietnam War memorial in the United States.
WHEREAS, The LaRosa Boys and Girls Club, in the city of
McKeesport, dedicated the earliest-known United States monument
to soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who lost their lives in
the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, In 1966, after five former members of the McKeesport
Boys Club were killed during a nine-month stretch of the war, a
tablet was placed by club founder Samuel LaRosa outside the club
with the names of the five fallen soldiers; and
WHEREAS, The November 11, 1966, event was documented in
McKeesport's The Daily News newspaper on November 12, 1966; and
WHEREAS, A bronze plaque and flagpole were unveiled by the
mothers of the five fallen soldiers; and
WHEREAS, The plaque reads: "In memory of McKeesport Boys'
Club members who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service
of their country"; and
WHEREAS, By March 1969, another six names were added to the
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memorial to honor the 11 LaRosa Club members who were killed in
a 40-month period who became known as "The LaRosa 11"; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-three names, which include "The LaRosa 11,"
would come to be displayed on the tablet by the end of 1975 to
honor all 23 McKeesport High School graduates who lost their
lives in the Vietnam War, and are remembered as the "McKeesport
23"; and
WHEREAS, Of the "McKeesport 23," 15 served in the Army, six
in the Marines, one in the Navy and one in the Air Force; and
WHEREAS, At least one member of each graduating class from
1964 to 1969 was killed in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, Overall, 882 western Pennsylvania residents were
killed in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, The McKeesport Boys Club is now named the LaRosa
Youth Club, in honor of Sam R. LaRosa, who started the local
organization in 1945; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the LaRosa Boys and Girls
Club for dedicating the earliest-known Vietnam War Memorial in
the United States.
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