Marcus Marietta - Connellsville, Pennsylvania
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member outdoorboy34
N 40° 01.022 W 079° 35.478
17T E 620218 N 4430598
This monument is located outside the Fraternal Order of Eagles located at 116 South Arch Street in the City of Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Waymark Code: WMXZF1
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 03/22/2018
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member bluesnote
Views: 1

Source: (visit link)
"Ewing Marcus Marietta II, suffered severe injuries when his vehicle struck the concrete barrier on Route 40, two miles west of Jumonville Road at 2:45 a.m.

The vehicle overturned and Marietta II, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the car, state police said.

Marietta was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., by emergency medical helicopter and died three days later from his injuries.

According to his father, Marietta was returning home from a football camp in Virginia when the crash occurred.

"He had friends down there and he could have stayed with them, but he wanted to get home for an event at our church," Marietta Sr. said, noting that his younger sisters were checking with Marietta II throughout his journey home by cell phone to keep tabs on his progress.

"The last we heard from him was eight minutes before the crash," Marietta Sr. said.

Marietta Sr., who is pastor the Liberty Baptist Church in Uniontown, said that he always taught his son to drive in the passing lane while descending Summit Mountain because trucks are often geared down in the right lane. He said he told his son that if he came around a curve and encountered a slow-moving truck it could cause an accident, making it safer to travel in the passing lane.

"My theory is that he made the curve at the watering trough and that he was in the passing lane and that a vehicle clipped his and turned his car into the barrier," Marietta Sr. said. "There is damage to the right rear bumper of the car that is consistent with that. Police are still investigating what happened and an investigator said my theory is plausible. He was a cautious driver but he should have had his seat belt on. We will just have to wait for the investigation to continue."

Marietta Sr. said that after his son was ejected from the car, he believes that God protected him and allowed him to live for three more days.

"Ray Savage and Morgan Camp from Marclay Ambulance were on their way up the mountain and they saw the car crashed and stopped right there and scaled the barrier and saved him. They gave us three more days, and they weren't even supposed to be there. They were off duty and still worked hard on him for 45 minutes. These men are heroes to my family," Marietta Sr. said.

While Marietta Sr. is anxious to learn what exactly happened the night of the crash, he is eager to talk about the legacy left behind by his son.

"There are people coming by and calling us that he touched in ways we never knew," Marietta Sr. said. "He was a great boy. He was a good person and loved the Lord."

Marietta Sr. said that outside his love of God and his commitment to church, his son most enjoyed football.

The football camp he was returning from was his second in recent weeks, Marietta Sr. said, noting that he attended the first camp with his son.

"It was funny because that camp was also in Virginia and we realized that we didn't bring enough clothes," Marietta Sr. said. "So there we were washing them in the hotel sink. Drying them with a hairdryer. It was a moment of bonding. God gave me that because I needed it. I had a really good time with him."

Source: (visit link)

The grassroots movement Thou Shalt Not Move unveiled the first of 14 Ten Commandments monuments Saturday night at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Connellsville.

The dedication took place in what was being called a Freedom Festival for the Ten Commandments that included prayers and patriotism. The section of Arch Street in front of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aries 493 was blocked off for the event while spectators listened to music and speakers, could purchase signs and t-shirts to support the effort or come inside the Eagles to take part in a meal. The event enjoyed a break from rainy weather that has hit the area this past week, and participants were pleased to note the appearance of a rainbow in the sky.

Guy Tressler and several children in the audience unveiled the monument, which was placed at the front of the Eagles building. Tressler was Eagles president in 1957 when the organization donated the Ten Commandments monument that stands covered at the Connellsville Junior High School that is now the basis of a lawsuit brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and an anonymous parent and student.

FFRF and the two anonymous plaintiffs filed a federal complaint last year, asking for the removal of the monument at the school on the basis that it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

But speaker after speaker during the dedication argued the Ten Commandments are part of the foundation on which the nation was built.

“Thank you for standing up for what America has believed in since its founding,’’ said the Rev. Barry Witt of Faith Bible Church.

Dr. Phillip Hadad of the Westmoreland Patriots voiced concern that public displays of the Ten Commandments, Nativity scenes and the Cross have been taken away in recent decades.

He told the crowd, “When the founding fathers wrote the Constitution, they didn’t have a problem with it.’’

The Rev. Peter Malik of Teens For Christ said, “If we take them away, we take away the foundation of our country.’’

Speakers included pastors, government officials and members of several grassroots organizations, who offered support for the fight against the lawsuit and the value of the Ten Commandments.

Brad Geyer, Connellsville city councilman, noted, “I went to that school, and I passed in front of that stone every day, and I ask you, ‘What’s wrong with that?’’’

Angela Zimmerlink, Fayette County commissioner, talked about conditions in the world and said, “This is not a time to take down the Ten Commandments.’’

The Rev. Gary Schneider of North Ten Mile Baptist Church in Washington County said, “Let’s keep God in America. Let’s keep the Ten Commandments in America. They will serve us well. They always have.’’

Several speakers called out FFRF.

Witt said, “The Freedom From Religion Foundation came to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, picking a fight and, yes, they got one.’’

David Show of the Fayette Patriots, said, “Let them try to remove it. We’ll put up 10 more, 20 more, 30-40-50 — whatever it takes.’’

Connellsville businessman Gary Colatch noted, “Prior to their attack, how many of you remembered the monument was there? This is the first of 14 so far. They turned one into 14. I think they did a pretty good job.’’

The Rev. Robert Lubic, pastor of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church and administrator of St. John the Evangelist and St. Rita Roman Catholic Churches in Connellsville, also supported the effort but noted, “What’s important is that we live those Ten Commandments.’’

Sister Denise Baker of the United Baptist Church asked spectators to stand and hold the hands of people next to them while she prayed to God, saying, “When everything else is gone, the only thing we’ll have left is your word.’’

Several speakers also spoke up for traditional values.

The Rev. Mike Brown of Liberty Baptist Church in North Union Township, said, “We need to start standing up for what is right in this nation and elect men and women of God.’’

The Rev. Ewing Marietta, pastor of Liberty Baptist in North Union Township, noted he grew up in Dunbar and went to school in Connellsville before attending Liberty College and serving in the military. He mentioned his late son, Marcus Marietta, who played sports for the Connellsville Area School District and died from injuries following a car accident in 2009. This first monument was dedicated in honor of Marcus Marietta.

Ewing Marietta noted, “Love these children because they are a gift from God.’’

Interviewed before the dedication, Tressler said, “The support they got for this is wonderful.’’

Dave Kuhns, current president, commented, “We stood for freedom of speech, and I’m proud to accept this monument that’s being donated back to us.’’

Timothy, Eagles chaplain, said, “I think it’s been great all along because of the support not only from the community but the counties surrounding us. I don’t see any issue with it. It won’t force religion on anybody. I went to school there, and I knew people who didn’t believe in God, and they didn’t take offense. I believe in God and country.’’

Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 21 in Connellsville conducted a 21-gun salute and played taps. They hosted a flag-folding ceremony and gave the flag to the family of Harry Springer, who fought in World War II."
Website with more information on either the memorial or the person(s) it is dedicated to: [Web Link]

Location: At the Arch Street Entrance

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