Astronomy for Disabled Veterans project at VA PHS Heinz campus in O’Hara moving forward

Stars continue to align for a pilot astronomy program at the VA PHS Heinz campus in O’Hara.

James Surman, a Plum resident and one of the founders of the Astronomy for Disabled Veterans project, said they recently acquired a 48-inch pier from High Point Scientific to be the base of a mount for a 9.5-inch Celestron telescope donated from the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP) in West Deer.

Both are in the process of being installed at the Sky Shed Observatory, which was constructed in late 2019 as part of Phase One of the project.

“The thing that we’re working on now is to get this started so we have a program started to get teaching started,” Surman said July 21. “If we get this thing set up in the next week or two (we can launch) probably in September. I’d hoped that it would have moved faster. We got locked out the last 18 months (due to the pandemic).”

Surman is the veteran’s services chairman of the Knights of Columbus Stephen P. Barry Assembly #940 in McKeesport. He and several other volunteers were able to get back to work on the project a few weeks ago.

The original goal was to raise about $80,000, but that has been decreased thanks to some major donations through the AAAP.

The observatory features a motorized roof, a remote-control telescope and a bay of computers where veterans can search the sky from the lobby of the domiciliary.

More than 30 different Knights of Columbus councils and assemblies from across the state have donated to the effort, which has received more than $31,000 so far.

Knights of Columbus Plum council recently gave another donation toward the project bringing its contribution to at least $500.

Phase Two includes raising about $10,000 to pay for another, larger telescope as well as a 50-inch monitor and a computer so images from the telescopes can be transmitted inside the veteran’s center near the observatory.

It also includes a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University to offer astronomy classes to veterans.

AAAP past president Edward Moss of Pittsburgh has been one of its main supporters ever since Surman pitched the idea about five years ago.

“I thought it was a worthwhile project,” Moss said. “It’s my chance to do something for the veterans because there’s a problem, and we need to make sure there’s no problem anymore.”

The current AAAP president is Lou Coban, who is offering technical support on the project.

Surman said everyone’s motivation to help veterans was bolstered by the 2018 release of a study by Dr. Alan Teo, a psychiatrist at the VA Portland Health Care System.

He focused on the loneliness factor of veteran depression. Findings showed about 84% of returning veterans had symptoms of depression and an estimated 20 veterans take their own lives daily.

“We’ve got to do something,” Surman said. “During the day, the hospital has activities for these guys. At night, they don’t.”

Barry Bisogni, a veteran and member of the Knights of Columbus Stephen P. Barry Assembly #940, is encouraged by the progress made so far. Bisogni enlisted in the Navy and served from 1966 through 1969 and was deployed to Vietnam.

“We’ve come a long way that’s for sure,” he said. “We’re just on the cusp of getting finished here. I’m happy that the veterans will have this to hopefully save some lives. Depression sets in at night usually when you have nothing to do. They’ll have something to do at night looking at the stars.”

Surman said his helpers have transported veterans to Star Parties such as the ones offered spring through fall at Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Park. There, people sit in the park’s meadow and stare into space through two large telescopes, discuss their thoughts and learn from experts.

The VA could start hosting its own Star Parties once all the work is completed.

VAPHS’ Heinz campus includes a 188-bed Community Living Center (nursing home) and a 65-bed Veterans Recovery Center.

Donations can be sent in care of the telescope fund at the Knights of Columbus, SPB Assembly, 1214 Glass Street, White Oak, PA 15131.