Ligonier vets who earned Medals of Honor deserve statues, locals say

Sitting in a Ligonier coffee shop, Mark Sorice made a bet with his cousin: If Sorice approached five people, none of them would know who Sgt. Alvin Carey or Pvt. John Ewing were.

Sure enough, none of the five knew either man.

Carey and Ewing, both Ligonier locals, were awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II and the Civil War, respectively.

Sorice said these men have been “unrecognized for so long.” He and several other volunteers are raising funds to erect statues of the veterans that would be on display on Ligonier’s Diamond.

“It’s always a treat to do something for the betterment of our community, especially for two men who really deserved it,” Sorice said.

Earning a Medal of Honor is a rare feat, and Sorice said it’s “unusual” that a small borough such as Ligonier boasts two recipients.

More than 41 million Americans have served in the U.S. military, but the U.S. has awarded only 3,525 Medals of Honor. This medal, considered the highest American military decoration, is given to servicemen and women who display acts of valor.

Ewing was an infantryman who captured the Confederacy’s flag during the Third Battle of Petersburg in 1865. This flag was given to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and eventually ended up in President Abraham Lincoln’s hands.

“The direct connection from John Ewing, a Ligonier resident, to President Lincoln is kind of amazing,” Sorice said.

Carey sacrificed his life for his platoon in 1944 as he attempted to take out a German stronghold in France. A year later, President Harry Truman presented his medal to his widow.

Sorice, an attorney who practices in Greensburg, believes both men’s actions demonstrate “the sacrifice that ordinary men made.”

“Something like this — where ordinary men are empowered to do extraordinary things by the simple course of acting — (demonstrates) that what you do in life matters,” Sorice said.

Sorice and Ligonier architect Steve Patricia are organizing efforts to erect the statues through the Ligonier Medal of Honor Project. Patricia designed the monuments and is in communication with nationally known sculptor Toby Mendez.

Additionally, Sorice has enlisted the services of his filmmaker cousin Philip Coccioletti to create a documentary about Carey and Ewing.

“Both men have such fascinating stories, and there’s so much to document,” Sorice said.

By putting the awardees’ statues in a prominent part of the borough, Sorice hopes to honor the men and remind Ligonier residents that “it doesn’t take much to change others’ lives for the good.”

Ligonier Mayor Ormand Bellas believes the project is a “good idea” that reflects Ligonier’s values.

“We’re a very patriotic town, valley and area,” Bellas said. “We support our troops and our nation to the max.”

Sorice is raising funds for the project through GoFundMe and grant applications. The attorney is hopeful the project takes off.

“There’s been a lot of interest both in the community and in Western Pennsylvania,” he said.