For those of us who grew up in Kaisertown, Houghton Park holds some great memories. It was always a place that we would meet up with friends and just be teenagers, participate in sports, and even school events, but mostly we enjoyed the outdoors at this beautiful
neighborhood park.
We also remember the WWII Monument that was the parks focal point. As kids, we sat on it, played on it, but the real reason behind it wouldn’t sink in until later in our lives, when so many of those same teenagers were called to war themselves. That’s when this monument became a memorial in our hearts.
In 1988, the stone monument was moved with great care to a more prestigious place at the front of Houghton Park. Since then, some of Kaisertown’s very own Veterans and Friends have been caring for the grounds around it, and have made it what it is today, ‘Heroes Grove’. Additional monuments have been added over the years, Pearl Harbor, Korea, Vietnam, and even 9/11...trees, flowers, shrubs, and even benches have been added, and behind the monument itself proudly stands a flag pole with the ‘American Flag’ and the ‘MIA’ flag waving in the wind. Plans are in the works for the addition of an Iraq-Afghanistan monument in the near future.
We have these Veteran’s, friends, and a local politician, Richard Fontana, to thank for keeping this Monument and the Grove that surrounds it in such beautiful condition. Heroes Grove is in
appreciation to all of our veterans who have kept us safe throughout the years. It is a reminder, that without these young men and women, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice, our way of life would disappear.
