The Globe War II-era cannon along Sugar Street in St. Clairsville is searching a lot superior these days, thanks to the efforts of Bethesda resident and Army veteran Robert Flanagan. (Photo Supplied)

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — U.S. Army veteran Robert “Bob” Flanagan is producing a mark on the area by restoring some pieces of military history and performing his element to honor other nearby veterans.

Most lately, Flanagan restored a 90-mm cannon from 1944 that is situated on Sugar Street in St. Clairsville.

Flanagan mentioned this is the fifth cannon he has restored in the Ohio Valley. He ordinarily cleans the cannons and paints them the original Army green colour.

Flanagan mentioned that even though he is not positive if it has noticed any wars, the cannon in St. Clairsville had a lot of put on. He estimated that restoring the cannon took about 33 hours.

“It was in terrible shape. Out of all of the ones I’ve accomplished, this a single was a mess,” he mentioned.

Very first he powerwashed the cannon and scraped off the dirt and old paint ahead of adding a fresh coat of Army green. Flanagan also painted the cement slab it stands on and trimmed the landscaping about the cannon to make it a lot more visible.

“It’s just a entertaining point to do. My mom taught me to enable when I can,” he mentioned.

Flanagan does all of the labor for the cannon restorations free of charge of charge either by himself or with the enable of other volunteers.

Jackee Pugh, tourism director for Belmont County, got to watch Flanagan in action.

“I reside close to the cannon on Sugar Street, so when I saw what he was performing I went outdoors and told him how wonderful it looked,” she mentioned.

Pugh mentioned members of the neighborhood like Flanagan make her proud to perform in Belmont County. “It’s so essential to see neighborhood members providing back and volunteering their time to restore landmarks in St. Clairsville and Belmont County. It shows a level of appreciate and commitment to the neighborhood,” she mentioned.

Flanagan previously restored two Globe War II cannons in Bethesda exactly where he lives — a 90-mm cannon close to the municipal constructing at the Murray Family members Memorial Plaza and a 37-mm cannon at Ebenezer Cemetery. He also restored a cannon at Memorial Park in Barnesville. Flanagan mentioned he restored his initial cannon eight years ago.

Flanagan served in the U.S. Army from 1965-67. He also served as Bethesda’s mayor from 2000-03. When he is not restoring cannons, Flanagan is attending the funerals of nearby veterans, exactly where he stands at focus at the cemetery gate even though the burials take location.

He also volunteers by playing guitar at nearby nursing properties. Flanagan has worked as a pilot all through his life as effectively.

“I’ve accomplished anything I’ve wanted to do in life,” he mentioned.

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