Rededication Of Pittsburgh's Boulevard of the Allies

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Shawn Walleck
  • 911th Public Affairs
PITTSBURGH IAP ARS --  "We want the spirit of America to be efficient; we want American character to be efficient; we want American character to display itself in what I may, perhaps, be allowed to call spiritual efficiency--clear, disinterested thinking and fearless action along the right lines of thought. America is not anything if it consists of each of us. It is something only if it
consists of all of us; and it can consist of all of us only as our spirits are banded together in a common enterprise. That common enterprise is the enterprise of liberty and justice and right."

These words were delivered by presidential candidate Thomas Woodrow Wilson during a campaign speech given in Pittsburgh, Oct. 18, 1912. Wilson would eventually become the 28th President of the United States and in his second term, find himself asking
Congress to declare war in 1917 under the same enterprise of liberty and justice and right he spoke of just four years earlier. Before Congress, President Wilson stated; "The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the
sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them." 

A little over one year later The Great War ended. At its conclusion the impact our Allies made resonated into the heart of a city, when Pittsburgh dedicated and named its largest thoroughfare Boulevard of the Allies. Almost 90 years later a grassroots effort began to rededicate the boulevard June 29th as part of celebrating the city's 250th Anniversary. 

"What started out as a simple idea grew into an event that became much bigger than we ever anticipated," said Mr. Romel Nicholas, Boulevard of the Allies Rededication lead planner. The original intent was to hold a simple ceremony; the finished product honored veterans and our Allied partners in the war on an International stage. In the early morning military members, Boy Scouts and War Dogs (a Pittsburgh based veterans club) gathered at threeVeterans Administration hospitals within the city limits to hand
out coins, commissioned by PNC Bank, and visit with recovering vets. "On this day we recognize all those who wore the uniform of their country and who so proudly served," said Col. Frank Amodeo, 911th Operations Group commander during a speech given at the VA's University Drive facility. Under motorcycle escort from the War Dogs, military members then assembled downtown. The streets were lined with American flags along with banners flags, produced by the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, for each of the
Allied nations. To the left of the stage were two large electronic billboards from Lamar Advertising that scrolled through a collection of local military photos both past and present. The ceremony began with a procession of flags in which the 911th Honor Guard participated alongside other military service and veteran organization color guards. 

In addition Airmen from the Wing stood in formation lining the streets with sister services representing all units serving in the local Guard and Reserve Forces. While a contingent
of Boy Scouts, U.S. Marshals Representative, veterans and numerous volunteers unfurled a 40-foot flag in the center of the street. U.S. Congressman Mike Doyle delivered the welcome remarks followed by the Star Spangled Banner, played by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, which concluded with a C-130 flyover from the 911th. Then Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an official presentation of the International Flags by Pittsburgh's Mayor Luke
Ravenstahl.
A 21-gun salute provided by the 1st Battalion's 107th Field Artillery unit added an even stronger military presence to the day's events followed by Mr. Ray Pfister's playing of
Taps. 

Numerous remarks were made at the podium throughout the event by military, veteran and civilian organizations as well as additional patriotic songs played by the Pittsburgh
Firefighters memorial Pipe Band and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Many citizen spectators lined the streets to witness the event offering up their own reasons for being at the event on a Sunday afternoon. "It's important for our children to see events like this and for them to understand the importance and the history of what it means to be an American," said Mrs. Tiffany Mangan, an event spectator. 

"I came down today with my daughter because I felt it was important to show our support for our troops," said Mr. Thad Bobula, another event spectator. Young and old, uniformed military and veterans, Allied friends and citizens all came together on this day in the
heart of the city under the same enterprises, which President Wilson spoke of in PIttsburgh more than 96 years ago...liberty and justice and right. "After witnessing what we all have today, you can't help but feel good inside," concluded Mr. Nicholas.