Lock Haven’s Veterans Park committee secures notable sculptor for featured art work

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Dave Harger, point person for the new Veterans Park across from the Clinton County Court House, has announced that Gary Casteel has been retained to provide and sculpt the park’s main featured piece of art.

Harger said the sculpture will be “the bust of a soldier that transcends time, past, current and future.” Harger, from project developer Harger Utility Charities said that Casteel, a Vietnam veteran, “is world famous and his pieces are seen by millions of people a year.” They include his work of General James Longstreet in Gettysburg National Park. Harger said, “Getting Gary is a major score for our project; his vision along with (committee member) Steve Getz will produce something we all will enjoy and treasure, and make the park a destination for many who visit Clinton County!”

Casteel is a West Virginia native who currently resides in Gettysburg and is a noted historic sculptor. In addition to his Gettysburg sculpture, his work is also seen at Vicksburg National Military Park, Antietam National Military Park and elsewhere.

Harger told The Record that project developers are planning to break ground by Memorial Day and be completed by Veterans Day this year. In a project update Harger said he has been been working closely with Faber Burner of Lock Haven to build the metal wall that will hold the park’s timeline pictures. He also said Steve Gibson of McTish, Kunkel and Associates is doing preliminary site surveys as a donation as the project moves along.

Plans are for most of the existing monuments at the park to be relocated, including some to Clinton County’s Piper Building, to be rededicated there. It was announced earlier that the park’s World War II pavilion is beyond repair.

The plans were first unveiled in August of last year.