It's time for those who played key roles in the construction of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis to witness the fruits of their labors.
"Several hundred union workers, members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 659, worked at the PDM plant in Warren during the 1960s, fabricating sections of the Arch," Mike Linderer, boilermakers director of communications, said. "Some of them have never seen the national monument in person."
"Many of these union workers have passed on," Linderer said. "For those still living, this may be their last opportunity to see the Arch."
Article Photos
St Louis Arch
The 630-foot tall structure was built from 1963 to 1965 at a cost of $13 million and was opened to the public in 1967.
Ed Atwood, who is not a boilermaker, has been named the trip director.
"People don't realize we built a national monument in Warren, Pennsylvania," Atwood said. "Our goal is to take the boys out there and let them see it."
He has been trying to contact the former PDM boilermakers and is hoping to find every worker who joined the effort and is up to making the trip.
"The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers will finance the trip for those retirees and their spouses who are able to make the trip," Linderer said.
The time-line is short. "A date has not been set, but we are looking at the first part of November," he said.
Retired boilermakers who would like to participate in the trip may contact Atwood at 726-2774.