Times Observer by Lorri Drumm A ceremony to officially dedicate the Hickory Street Bridge as the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18.

Any confusion as to the name of the bridge that leads from Hickory Street over the Allegheny River will come to an official end on Saturday.

A ceremony to officially dedicate the Hickory Street Bridge as the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge will be held Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m.

The ceremony will include the presentation of banners honoring the military, Echo Taps, and a 21-Gun Salute. The event is open to the public.

The bridge will be closed to traffic during the ceremony.

Warren City Council members approved the name change at council’s November meeting. The renaming was approved by a four to two margin with council members Paul Giannini and Philip Gilbert voting against the name change.

City Manager Nancy Freenock said that the city had looked into the Hometown Heroes Program as a way to honor local veterans with banners on existing poles in the city.

The cost of the banners to families and administration of the program motivated council to think of another way to accomplish the original goal.

So Mayor Maurice Cashman suggested the name change.

During the roll call vote Council Member Richard Kolcharno passed and asked for more time to think. With the vote needing four to pass, the future name of the bridge rested on Kolcharno’s shoulders. After some hesitation, he cast his approval.