Gettysburg Monuments License Plate A Step Closer

HARRISBURG, Feb. 22 -- The House Transportation Committee today unanimously approved inserting a proposal for a Pennsylvania Gettysburg monuments preservation license plate into a bill that was sent to the full House for consideration.

State Rep. Joe Battisto, D-Monroe, introduced the amendment on behalf of Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, who has been working for more than two years for a state license plate that would help fund preservation of the Commonwealth's 147 monuments and markers on the battlefield at Gettysburg. Battisto, Democratic chairman of the committee, incorporated the language of Readshaw's original bill into another measure the committee was about to consider.

The sponsor of the bill (H.B. 1549), Republican Transportation Committee Chairman Richard Geist, supported the amendment. The bill was unanimously reported out of committee.

Under the legislation, $15 from the PennDOT charge for a Gettysburg monuments license plate would go to the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monuments Project founded by Readshaw to raise funds to restore and perpetually endow the Pennsylvania monuments.

Readshaw's campaign has already netted $150,000 for the project and there's hopes that a $500,000 line item proposed by Gov. Tom Ridge for the 2000-01 state budget will be approved to benefit the monuments and markers that dot the Adams County battlefield.

The total cost is estimated at $750,000. The Gettysburg monuments plate would use the standard blue background and yellow letters that are on current plates, similar to those already approved for such causes as college alumni organizations, veterans groups and volunteer firefighters.

Weather, vandalism, and years of attention from millions of park visitors, coupled with insufficient federal funding for maintenance, have left most of the monuments in need of attention. Some only need cleaning and polishing. Others, including the huge Pennsylvania Memorial, need major attention to ensure preservation.

The potential popularity of the special registration plates has been illustrated by sale of 1,000 decorative front-bumper plates to benefit the Gettysburg monuments.

"I extend my thanks to Joe Battisto for advancing my proposal," said Readshaw, "and to Richard Geist for supporting its insertion into his House bill.

"I'm looking forward to seeing it come to the House floor for a vote and hopefully to the Senate and the governor's desk for enactment," he said. Readshaw said Pennsylvanians who favor the Gettysburg plate bill should contact their local state representative, senator and Ridge to urge the legislation's prompt approval.