38 Renovo area flyboys honored, remembered

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.

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.

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.…”