Erie County Veterans Memorial Park

06/07/2026

Our continuing series about those whose names are on the memorials at Erie County Veterans Memorial Park continues.
Army Pfc. Henry Harley Hall Jr. was killed in action on D-Day, June 6, 1944, on Omaha Beach. His actions that day, while at the cost of his life, earned him the nation’s second highest military honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, for courage under fire.
On June 6, 1944, Pfc. Hall landed at H+30 in an eight-man team with the 397th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion in 18 LCVPs earmarked for Omaha Beach between Dog Green and Fox Green sections, a deadly area. The battalion was attached to the 16th Regimental Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division, known as the Big Red One.
His citation called out his “extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman …, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. Private First Class Hall's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States. …”
Just how he was killed is not officially described, though his friend, Albert Firster wrote a poem that says it was a sniper’s bullet. Harley Hall was one of three from his eight-man team killed that day. The other five were wounded.
Henry Harley Hall Jr. was born in Corry September 11, 1923, to Henry H. and Ruth Hall. His siblings were Charles, Helen, Robert and Roger. They grew up in Corry where their father was employed at Aero Supply Mfg. Co. In 1940, the family lived at 671 East South Street. Harley attended Corry High School where he was known as “Curly.” He was active in the Study Club, Nature Club and Football. Hall enlisted in the Army with his friend, Albert Firster, on February 11, 1943, in Erie.
He is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Corry.

05/19/2026

Please join us to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice! Hope to see everyone there!
-Sean

05/08/2026

Erie celebrated 81 years ago when Germany surrendered.

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

VE Day 8 May 1945

Today marks the anniversary of the end of fighting in Europe in WWII, with the transition to stability operations, what did the 28th Division do?

This photo taken in Kaiserslautern, Germany the week of VE Day shows two soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division PFC Edward S Stepien (Battery C, 109th FA) and PVT Allan Fletcher (HQ Co, 28th ID) helping to interview and process Ms. Martha Aroffeva. Aroffeva was a Red Cross worker from Kiev, Ukraine assigned to support the Red Army and was captured by German forces. Liberated by the 28th ID in the final week of the war, she was one of thousands of displaced persons, or DPs, processed by the Division after the close of hostilities.

The 28th would transition to occupation duties in late May, working with DP camps and providing a security force in post war Germany. PVT Fletcher (pictured) would later recieve the Bronze Star for his service as a translator during this final phase of operations.

05/01/2026

For Jill Seeley, receiving the kidney donation helped change her perspective and have more gratitude for life, she said.

05/01/2026

National Military Appreciation Month take place in May. Here are 6 meaningful ways to honor those serve, our Veterans, and their families.

04/30/2026

Five men whose names were inscribed on the Erie County World War II Memorial in 1999 were among 1,015 American troops lost at sea in 1943. Details of their death were officially kept secret for 50 years.
On November 26, 1943, a German guided glide bomb sank the British troopship HMT Rohna off the Mediterranean Sea coast of Algeria, killing 1,138aboard. It was the greatest loss of U.S. troops at sea (the actual number of troops was 1,015) in U.S. history. Adding the loss of ship’s crew and officers, and three Red Cross workers, more lives were lost than on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. That this happened was kept secret for 50 years.
Four of the men resided in Erie County prior to entering the service – Pfc. Donald E. Lundy, Pfc. Peter P. Smolinsky, Cpl. Peter J. DiNittis and Cpl. Edmund V. Jauernick. They were all part of the 322nd Fighter Control Squadron. The fifth, Tech 5 Benjamin Kolubus, was assigned to the 31st Signal Construction Battalion. Many troops on the ship were part of various aviation support units being transported to the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations.
On November 25, 1943, the H.M.T. Rohna left Oran in a convoy bound for Port Said, Egypt. The 322nd FCS and some other units were aboard the troop ship and headed for the Indian Ocean. Late that afternoon, about 30 German aircraft armed with HS-293 radio guided glide bombs attacked the convoy. Eight were shot down and all but one of the rest fled. That Heinkel bomber came out of clouds and launched its missile at Rohna. It hit amidships at the water line with a large explosion, killing hundreds. And hundreds more died from drowning or exposure after the ship sank hours later. An American minesweeper rescued 606 men.
The Allied governments kept the attack secret for 50 years, according to the National World War II Museum website. Survivors dedicated a memorial to their fallen comrades at Fort Mitchell, Alabama, in 1996.
The news reporting on the five deaths was somewhat confusing due to the uneven way the War Department reported them to the families.
The Erie Daily Times report in May 1944 said Smolinsky and Jauernick may have been killed November 27, 1943, when a troop ship sank. It did not give the name of the ship nor the circumstances of the sinking. By contrast, the Lundy family was informed around December 29 that their son had died of injuries “received in a battle area.” Details of the “fatal accident” would come later, the family was told. Reports the same day listed Jauernick as missing in action. A later telegram stated he died November 27 but gave no details. The parents learned of some more details “from other sources,” the newspaper reported. Kolobus’s death was reported May 15, 1944, as happening in the Mediterranean area.
Cpl. Peter J. DiNittis was born May 10, 1921, in Ginosa, Italy. He came to Erie in 199, graduated from Strong Vincent high School and worked at GE until his enlistment in October 1942.
Pfc. Peter P. Smolinsky was born Sept. 15, 1915. He attended East and Tech high schools, then worked at Uniflow until his enlistment in May 1942.
Cpl. Edmund V. Jauernick graduated from East High School in 1938, was a Boy Scout leader after high school and worked at Atlas Electric before enlisting in October 1942.
Pfc. Donald E. Lundy was born in Elk County January 26, 1924, in Elk County. He graduated from Corry High School, then worked at Aero Supply Mfg. there until he entered the Army Air Forces in March 1943.
Tech 5 Benjamin W. Kolobus was born in Hoffman, N.Y., on Sept. 3, 1922. He grew up in Halfmoon, N.Y. His parents lived in rural Waterford at the time of his death.

04/17/2026

Notice of Planned Exercise: Erie VA Medical Center will be conducting a large-scale active threat training exercise Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the main facility located at 135 E 38th Street, Erie, PA.

This joint training exercise is designed to test and improve response capabilities in the event of an active threat situation. Those in the nearby area may hear sirens, simulated gunshots or other emergency sounds during the exercise.

The community can expect to see multiple law enforcement, fire and emergency medical service personnel at or near the facility.

Urgent Care Services will continue as slated from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

We appreciate the community’s ongoing support and understanding as we reinforce our preparedness for any emergency situation to keep our Veterans, visitors, and staff safe!