Memorial Hall, Museum Struggles For Funds

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum struggles for funds

Soon after Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum opened in 1910 to recognize Civil War veterans, officials realized a problem with their charter.

"To serve on the board or work in the building, you had to be a Civil War veteran," said Ron Gancas, Soldiers & Sailors president. "They were running out of veterans."

That's when Taylor Turner, who fought at Appomattox, stepped up, signing on to be a utility worker at Soldiers & Sailors. He was about 70 at the time, said Gancas. Turner died in 1924 and is buried in Homewood Cemetery.

Nearly 100 years after opening, the Oakland institution again struggles with staffing. Planning recently began for a birthday celebration amid budget constraints made worse by cuts in state funding. Salaries have been frozen -- Gancas took a 20-percent pay cut -- and some workers who retired haven't been replaced.

The anniversary event, named the Cannonball Centennial Celebration, will be held Oct. 9, 2010. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will chair the event.

First conceived by the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization of Civil War veterans, Soldiers & Sailors expanded its scope over the years to include all Pennsylvanians who served in the military during the country's wars.

"Soldiers & Sailors is a remarkable institution that honors the men and women who served our country and provides vital tools and support for veterans and their families. I invite the community to join us in celebrating ... the important role it has played in Allegheny County," Onorato said.

The budget woes make planning the celebration more difficult, officials said.

Gancas said the museum's state allocation of about $260,000 has been cut to just $5,000 for 2010.

"We lost everything. We're going to be affected greatly by this," he said.

Leaders hope the anniversary will draw a lot of attention.

"We're hoping to have some major players attend," said John McCabe, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "This place is still alive and well. It's 100 years of history."

The Event and Sponsorship Committee, which will raise money for the event, has begun its work, McCabe said. Money collected through sponsorships, ticket sales, and other fundraising will help pay for the celebration and daily operations.

A fundraising goal has not been set, McCabe said. Soldiers & Sailors has an operating budget of about $1.2 million.

"This event presents us with a good opportunity to really ramp up fundraising for our mission and the memorial's continued improvement and survival," he said.

Soldiers & Sailors did not hold its annual fundraising event this year, in part because of the slumping economy, but also to allow more time to plan for next year's event, McCabe said.

A few smaller events involving local veterans are expected to take place throughout the year, building up to the Cannonball Centennial Celebration.