Benner Township Park, Baseball Field to Be Renamed

One local community park will be getting a new name.

Benner Township Park is being renamed the Benner Township Veterans Community Park. Deb Burger spearheaded the project, which is near and dear to her heart.

Her brother, Maj. Lewis P. Smith II, was a 1964 Penn State graduate and Blue Band trumpeter. An Air Force ROTC member, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation.

In May 1968, Smith was shot down over Laos while flying a combat mission. He has been listed missing in action ever since.

The 55th anniversary of that event took place on May 30.

“I was in fifth grade when he was shot down,” Burger explained. “My father was in World War II and Korea, so our family has always been about veterans.”

Throughout her life, Burger has gone above and beyond when it comes to veterans.

“I felt bad because the Vietnam veterans never got the recognition that they deserved,” Burger said.

Getting the park renamed is big for Burger. However, there’s more.

Burger asked the Benner Township supervisors to rename the baseball field for Dennis Johnstonbaugh, a Vietnam veteran who lost his legs while serving his country.

Burger said her family is connected to Johnstonbaugh.

“My father, who was a contractor, actually built his house for him when he came back,” Burger said. “I was in sixth or seventh grade and I would go out with my Dad. I had been in Dennis’ house to help my Dad do stuff. … I’ve always felt this kinship connection.”

Getting the park and baseball field renamed was a long and involved process, Burger said. In fact, she began the push for this way back in 2017.

“I like what the supervisors did. They named the entire park for all veterans. And then they allowed the one ballfield in the park to be named for Dennis,” Burger said.

Johnstonbaugh has coached baseball before.

“I think this is very appropriate,” Burger said, “and I really want to thank the current Benner Township supervisors for helping to push this through. … They were very good about it.”

Burger thanked Jim Lanning from the Centre County Veterans Mentorship Program for helping her get on the agenda to speak with the supervisors.

This isn’t the first time Burger has done something like this. She got the High Street Bridge in Bellefonte renamed as Veterans Bridge and she helped to get the Hometown Heroes banner program off the ground.

In 2021, Burger got a seat at Beaver Stadium designated a “Chair of Honor,” which always remains empty. The specially designed black seat honors POW/MIA service members.

“We got the chair placed,” Burger said. “That was very special.”

An official ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on July 16.