Them's Fighting Words!

      Looks like my old buddy Joe Palooka
is being forced back into the ring.
      Interesting that, with all the problems
the City of Wilkes-Barre is facing these
days, a former City Councilman has
decided to devote his attention to an attempt
to move the monument to Joe and his
creator Ham Fisher to somewhere downtown.
      Them's fighting words mister!
      I was a member of a four man committee
that had the Joe Palooka monument built and
placed on a pullover spot along Route309 in
Hanover Township.
      The original bronze plaque to the once
popular comic strip hero had been stolen
several years before.
       The location was not selected by chance.
Both the original plaque and our replacement
tribute are located at the base of what is know
as "Mount Joe Palooka!"
        Thousands of motorists see it each day
on their way to and from Wyoming Valley.
When I was a kid by Dad used to drive by
the plaque and always mentioned it to me.
        It's also on a national list of roadside
attractions so people from anywhere in the
country can find it if they're looking for it.
        True. Very few people take the time to
pull over and read the inscription below the
bust of Palooka. That said I doubt that any
one would actually drive into downtown
Wilkes-Barre to seek it out. Even, if they
did, they'd risk getting ticked for cruising
around Public Square!
       The face of the fighter is rather
prominent on the granite memorial so it
can be seen even by those driving by. Those
who know who and what it represents can
share that information with those traveling
with them.
      Perhaps most importantly, the people
who contributed financial support to the
monument did so with the intent of seeing
it erected at the base of Joe Palooka Mountain!
      For that reason alone it should remain
exactly where it is!
      And what's wrong with the idea of
creating a separate memorial, perhaps more
specifically designed to salute Ham Fisher,
rather than his character, in downtown
Wilkes-Barre?
      I stood side by side with Joe during
the dedication for the monument. He was
happy to have it there.
      As far as this attempt to move this
Granite monument is concerned, I hope
it's down for the count.... and that all your
NEWS is good!