JOHNSTOWN — Preparations for the three-day farewell to U.S. Rep. John Murtha swung into high gear Thursday as officials lined up shuttle buses, scores of police and a funeral guest list.
About 2,000 well-wishers are expected to stop by the funeral home Sunday and Monday to pay their last respects to the 36-year congressman.
A funeral service and private burial will be held Tuesday.
A large congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is to attend the funeral service, according to Matthew Mazonkey, a Murtha aide.
“I can’t recall anything (a funeral) of this magnitude,” Frank Duca said from his Duca Funeral Home’s Westmont Chapel, 1622 Menoher Blvd., which will host the wake.
Duca met with representatives of the Murtha camp Thursday to finalize plans.
Among the agencies expected to provide personnel are West Hills police, Upper Yoder police, city police, Capitol Police, state police, the county sheriff’s department and emergency management agency, and Cambria/Somerset fire police.
“We got a lot of area here to cover,” Duca said.
“I don’t want to be undermanned. I’d rather be overmanned, just in case, because you never know.”
Officers will be available to assist anyone, to direct traffic and to keep things secure, Duca said.
Duca said perhaps 500 people will be able to attend the church service by invitation only.
A congressional delegation is expected, as well as other local, state and federal leaders.
The Rev. Douglas Stevens will officiate at the funeral. Private interment will be held at Grandview Cemetery.
A staging area for the media will be set up at the old Stuzman School at Menoher and Goucher for all three days.
To accommodate the crowd of John Murtha’s friends and constituents expected at the funeral home, the following was announced Thursday:
• The closure of a block of Menoher Boulevard, from Heidelberg Lane to Menoher’s intersection with Goucher Street, between 2 and 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday. The closure is to accommodate the wake at Duca Funeral Home, which is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. both days. In an effort to keep pedestrians safe, no through traffic will be allowed.
• Free shuttle buses will run between the Hiram G. Andrews Center on Goucher and the funeral home between 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Frank Duca said the public is encouraged to park at the center and take the buses: “There’s probably room for 300 cars there,” he said.
• Extra parking will be available during the wake at Westmont Baptist Church at Menoher and Goucher.
• Tuesday morning and early afternoon, Luzerne Street will be closed in both directions for several blocks – Hood Avenue to Emory Street – to accommodate the private, 11 a.m. funeral service at Westmont Presbyterian Church. The space is needed for an expected 250 cars plus some buses, and to keep a lane open for emergency vehicles.
Source: Tribune Democrat
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