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Jun 29, 2008 10:10 pm US/Eastern
City Rededicates Blvd. Of The Allies To Veterans
PITTSBURGH (AP) ―
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This large American flag was unfurled during today's rededication ceremony.
KDKA
Ninety years after the end of World War I, Pittsburgh rededicated the Boulevard of the Allies on Sunday in a day of events meant to honor all veterans.
The celebration included visits from foreign dignitaries, a flyover by the U.S. Air Force's 911th Airlift Wing and a 21-gun salute.
The rededication started as an effort by Romel Nicholas, an attorney and board member of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
"The essence and the theme is really to honor veterans," Nicholas said.
The street was once known as the Monongahela Boulevard because it parallels the river of the same name. The road connects downtown to the city's Oakland neighborhood, home to several colleges and universities, including Pitt and Carnegie Mellon.
For Sunday's celebration, the boulevard was lined with American flags and flags of the war's dozens of Allied nations. Representatives from 11 of those countries attended, including authorities from France, Greece, New Zealand, Canada, Guatemala and South Africa.
The day coincides with the completion of the first ever Tour of Pennsylvania bicycle race, which ended downtown. The race and the tribute to veterans are both part of the city's celebration of its 250th birthday.
"Ninety years after the end of that war - and 250 years after the founding of Pittsburgh - it's important to undertake efforts like this to make sure that we never forget the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf," U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle said.
Local universities, the Pittsburgh-based National Flag Foundation and dozens of other groups participated and contributed to the celebration, Nicholas said.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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