Army veteran Robert Flanagan has restored a 90-mm cannon from 1944 that is located on Sugar Street in St. Clairsville. This is the fifth cannon he has restored in the Ohio Valley, and he typically cleans the cannons and paints them the original Army green color. Flanagan does all of the labor for the cannon restorations free of charge either by himself or with the help of other volunteers. He estimated that restoring the cannon took about 33 hours. Flanagan previously restored two World War II cannons in Bethesda where he lives. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965-67.
Belmont County Veteran Restores World War II Cannon in St. Clairsville
U.S. Army veteran Robert “Bob” Flanagan is a man on a mission to restore pieces of military history and honor local veterans in the Ohio Valley region. Flanagan has recently restored a 90-mm cannon from 1944 that is located on Sugar Street in St. Clairsville. This is the fifth cannon he has restored in the Ohio Valley, and he typically cleans and paints them the original Army green color.
Flanagan said that although he is not sure if the cannon has seen any wars, it was in bad shape and had a lot of wear. He estimated that restoring the cannon took about 33 hours. Flanagan power-washed the cannon, scraped off the dirt and old paint, and added a fresh coat of Army green. He also painted the cement slab it stands on and trimmed the landscaping around the cannon to make it more visible.
Flanagan does all of the labor for the cannon restorations free of charge either by himself or with the help of other volunteers. Jackee Pugh, tourism director for Belmont County, got to watch Flanagan in action and said, “It’s so important to see community members giving back and volunteering their time to restore landmarks in St. Clairsville and Belmont County. It shows a level of love and commitment to the community.”
Flanagan previously restored two World War II cannons in Bethesda where he lives – a 90-mm cannon near the municipal building at the Murray Family Memorial Plaza and a 37-mm cannon at Ebenezer Cemetery. He also restored a cannon at Memorial Park in Barnesville. Flanagan said he restored his first cannon eight years ago.
Flanagan served in the U.S. Army from 1965-67. He said, “It’s just a fun thing to do. My mom taught me to help when I can.” Flanagan’s dedication to restoring these cannons is a testament to his love for his country and his community. His efforts help preserve the history of our military and honor those who have served our country.
Belmont County is lucky to have a dedicated veteran like Flanagan who is willing to give his time and energy to make his community a better place. His selfless acts of kindness and commitment to restoring these cannons are an inspiration to us all.
