BOYERTOWN — The Boyertown American Legion Post 471 received a retired M108 Tracked Howitzer on Nov. 21 to be placed on display at 100 Walker Drive.
“This unit had spent many years in U.S. Army service and then was put on display at a museum in Danville, Virginia. Now it has a new home in Boyertown to help honor all our veterans,” Mark Malizzi said in a press release.
The Commander of the Boyertown Post, Valentine Bartchak, had reached out to the U.S. Army more than two years ago to be able to be placed on a list to receive a one-of-kind display.
“They do not give many of these out anymore and we were just in the right place at the right to be able to acquire this unit from them,” said Malizzi.
MGK Industries, Berks-Mont Towing and V&M Towing helped move the 22-ton retired military vehicle from its old home in Virginia to its new home and pad location at the Boyertown Legion. (Photo courtesy of Boyertown American Legion)Getting the okay to receive the military vehicle was only the first step. The Legion then had to get building permits to build a permanent pad to set the Howitzer on and then they were able to get help from companies like MGK industries and Berks-Mont Towing and V&M Towing to move the 22-ton unit from its old home in Virginia to its new home and pad location at the Boyertown Legion.
A retired M108 Tracked Howitzer was placed on a permanent pad at the Boyertown Legion. (Photo courtesy of Boyertown American Legion)“This was a full team effort and we could not have done this so quickly without the help of many people and we would like to thank them all very much,” said Malizzi.
Plans are now being made to clean up, paint and then dedicate this unit in the spring.