Laurels & lances: Honors, arts and marts

Laurel: To honoring service. James Wilson of Herminie was a U.S. Marine and a World War II veteran, but he was more than that, too. He fought another battle as one of the first Black men to serve in the Marine Corps.

In 2011, President Obama signed the legislation that permitted those men to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. But Wilson, who earned a Penn State associates degree and then served as a state prison guard, didn’t get that medal. He died in 1994.

That oversight has been corrected. Wilson has been posthumously granted the medal. His family received it this week.

The kind of commitment shown by Wilson and his comrades in arms at a time that the world was on fire with war left a mark on the military that is still felt today. It is a debt all of us owe but can never fully repay. The medal, given so long after his death, is the very least that can be offered.

Laurel: To sharing culture. Since the coronavirus pandemic shut venue doors and made it nearly impossible to gather for live performances, the arts have had a hard time. The Westmoreland Cultural Trust is looking to fix that by making the music and drama at The Palace Theatre easier to access from a distance via a livestreaming service.

The virtual platform will allow regional cultural organizations and nonprofits to showcase local arts and entertainment in live performances viewed from the comforts of home, thanks to a $200,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Laurel: To a night out. Livestreamed culture can be great, but let’s say you still miss getting out of the house and doing something in the real world. That’s still possible.

Night markets around the world are a longstanding tradition, and they are just the ticket for a pandemic — outdoors and with social distancing easy to achieve. Tarentum is embracing the concept.

Stores and food venues in the business district stay open until 8 p.m., with live music performed at various locations. The inaugural market in September was popular enough to continue. Last night was the second, and they’ll continue Nov. 19 and Dec. 10.

This is a way to not only help the local economy but boost the spirit, as well. Bring on the night markets.