38 Renovo area flyboys honored, remembered

PublisherMay 29, 2023

4 minutes read

by Christopher Miller

RENOVO, PA – The Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park unveiled their multi-year project Sunday afternoon in front of a rather large crowd of onlookers.

“We put out 50 chairs and easily had almost double that standing, it was standing room only,” said Heritage Park Board Member Rich Wykoff.

The flyboys mural was dedicated in honor and in memory of the 38 flyboys that hailed from the Renovo and western Clinton County area during World War II. The 10’x10′ mural, which graces the southern wall of Tony’s Hardware store on Huron Avenue, was commissioned by the Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park Association, and completed by local artist and Airman Robert “Haney” Calhoun.

“We are honored to be here and to pay tribute to the flyboy pilots of the second World War,” Board President Mary George Rhone said, addressing the crowd. “They flew into enemy territory risking their lives, to fight off enemy fighters, they knew the dangers and the hardships of their mission, and still did so through all sorts of weather and under danger of enemy capture.” “The impact of WW2 on the flyboys was significant.”

Mary George went on to explain how the idea was first presented to the late John Curcio of North Bend three years ago.

“He was an elite flyboy,” Mary began. “You would go in to talk, and each visit started the same way with him mixing up a Long Island Iced Tea, Johnny was a very giving man and I couldn’t tell him I didn’t care much for those,” she said. “I told him the mural was going to start and that it was going to happen and he was thrilled.”

“The flyboys were dedicated to their mission, with the greatest desire to preserve peace and democracy, they witnessed their comrades falling from the sky, and they endured hunger, cold, fatigue, and fear, but they also experienced many moments of joy and triumph, and we honor them here today…thank you, for your service and sacrifice, you deserve our respect and gratitude.”

Graphic designer and mural artist Robert “Haney” Calhoun had little to say during the event, as he was choked up in the spirit of it all.

“I just want to say wow, and that this is going to be a huge ray of sunshine for this sleepy little town,” he started. “Thanks to the donors for their support of the project.” “As an artist this was the most challenging, demanding, and frustrating project I have had the pleasure of working on, so thank you all, and God bless America.”

Trish Wilson presented a poem she wrote about the flyboys of WW2 titled Flyboys of the Greatest Generation.

To the Flyboys of WWII

The protectors of our skies

I heard your chants of victories.

And mourned your mothers’ cries.

The chants of victories

Against Hitler and Japan

Leaving your homes and families

In far off distant lands.

The Greatest Generation

Laid down in the pages of time.

For all to witness

As written line by line.

The glory of victory

The sadness of death

For those left behind

Who took their last breath.

In the skies over Europe

And the Pacific theatre too

Risking it all

For a job you were entrusted to do.

To the Gold Star mothers

Who shed many tears?

For their sons and daughters lost

Over many, many years.

Thank you for your service

And your sacrifices too

In defense of a nation

That is very proud of you.

Bucktail High School student Kedda Bissman shared a description of her Senior class project and how she worked with John Curcio, and shared a history of his life.

The main guest speaker of the afternoon was Tracy Shady, also of the Renovo Heritage Park. A veteran herself, Tracy shared her own sentiments on the mural project.

“These pilots were the bravest of their time,” Tracy began. “They worked under enemy fire and harsh weather conditions, it was important for them to have a support system, to be together and to make it home safely.” “They were responsible for securing democracy and freedom.”

“The air support they provided was vital to allied success on D-Day,” Tracy went on. “War is never easy and it carries a heavy price, but these boys put their lives on the line daily and made sacrifices we cannot imagine, they left their families behind to fight in this foreign land to maintain our democracy and Ukrainians are fighting for this same thing today.”

Tracy then presented a quote from Winston Churchill.

“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”

“We will never forget their sacrifices,” she said, “they all worked together, to support each other.”

The program also featured the Bucktail High School Drumline, the Posting of Colors by the Marine Corps League, the National Anthem as sung by Kedda Bissman, an invocation and benediction by Martha Sykes, the performance of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by Erica Dorman and Brandon Kahley, the Roll Call by Rich Wykoff, the playing of TAPS by Brandon Kahley, a performance of the song “Where the Stars, and Stripes, and Eagles Fly” sung by Autumn Gavlock, and the official unveiling ceremony by Mary George Rhone.

The mural pays tribute to the 38 known flyboy veterans from the Renovo area who served as part of bomber forces during the Second World War that have so far been identified through the group’s research, and is also a fitting tribute to all veterans.

“We need to thank the American Legion and Sons of the American Legion who were the first and main donors to make a substantial donation to this project,” said Mary George Rhone.