UNIONTOWN, Penn. – On Oct. 26, England?EUR??,,????'???s Prince Andrew came to town to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan and pay homage to Uniontown?EUR??,,????'???s own, George Marshall, the man who called for an American plan to help Europe recover from World War II in a Harvard commencement speech, June 5, 1947. Prince Andrew donated a 14 inch by 32 inch cast bronze plaque, as thousands of people gathered at the George C. Marshall Memorial Plaza.

For Ellen Ulmer, landscape designer, the ceremony marked the end of a long road. She said in July 2002 the British contacted the Friends of Marshall about a visit, but and it was kept strictly confidential. However, since the public announcement a few weeks prior, everything had been in full swing.

?EUR??,,????'??We really didn?EUR??,,????'???t have to do anything to get the prince here,?EUR??,,????'?? Ms. Ulmer told LASN. ?EUR??,,????'??The British wanted to observe the 50th anniversary of the Marshall scholarship. They contacted us to see if they could dedicate a plaque in his name; that was 15 months ago.?EUR??,,????'??

Ms. Ulmer helped plant flowers in the plaza in anticipation of Prince Andrew?EUR??,,????'???s arrival and became a member of the Friends of Marshall. This group helped to create a memorial to their most famous son and also try to promote knowledge about him.

The main section of the plaza, opened in 1999, is a triangular piece of land located between Main and Fayette streets directly across Main Street from the site of Marshall?EUR??,,????'???s boyhood home, where the VFW Post 47 is located. Budget constraints compelled Ms. Ulmer to create some redesigns.

?EUR??,,????'??When I was contacted, we already had some designs calling for a museum, granite boulders and a water feature,?EUR??,,????'?? she explained. ?EUR??,,????'??I was asked it we could finish the project under those specifications. We didn?EUR??,,????'???t have the money to purchase the granite.?EUR??,,????'??

The project was implemented in three phases, receiving funds from the state, and the department of transportation.

The walkway opens into a wider area that holds three rows of flags, that represent the 16 nations included in the Marshall Plan, and flags for the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and VFW Post 47. Plaques giving a timeline of Marshall?EUR??,,????'???s life are located along the walkway. A World War I doughboy sculpture is also a part of the plaza.

?EUR??,,????'??I wanted to be able to tell a story of his life through the landscape,?EUR??,,????'?? said Ms. Ulmer. ?EUR??,,????'??Later in his life he talked about orchards, so we had some peach trees planted. A bridge crosses over a creek and symbolizes his middle years of life when he was involved in the war.

Phase II, completed last year, includes a World War II G.I. sculpture, a sculpture of Marshall in a World War II uniform on a bench, and three plaques highlighting remarks Marshall made about war. There are also steps, another bench and a parking lot for visitors.

?EUR??,,????'??The Friends of Marshall haven?EUR??,,????'???t quit their work,?EUR??,,????'?? Ms. Ulmer noted. ?EUR??,,????'??You never know what will come up. Although his birth place is gone, a brick building from his lifetime still sits there.?EUR??,,????'??