By Marilyn Forbes
The Daily Courier
6-11-07
Sometime close to 5 on the evening of Dec. 9, 1965, a bluish object was spotted over several American states and parts of Canada.
The unidentified flying object was reported to seemingly change course until it finally plummeted to Earth, resting in a densely wooded area in Kecksburg, Mt. Pleasant Township.
What was the object and why was the military called out?
Was there a government cover up?
What was the acorn-shaped object that was reported to have been removed from the area, under a taut tarp on the back of a flat bed truck?
What fell from the sky that winter night?
Greensburg native Stan Gordon has been studying these very questions since the incident occurred and has become a devoted researcher and popular lecturer on the subject that has come to be known as "The Kecksburg Incident."
In keeping with the Mt. Pleasant library's program "Get a Clue @ Your Library," Gordon was asked to be a guest lecturer.
"We thought he would be a good choice and people are interested in his talks," librarian Jamie Falo said. "We hoped for a good crowd."
And Gordon did draw a good crowd, showing his video presentation, and fielding a question and answer period for a crowd of about 40.
Gordon, who has been fascinated by the occurrence for more than 40 years, has spoken across the country on the subject, and is continually compiling facts as new people come forward with information.
"There is a huge amount of interest in the Kecksburg incident," Gordon said, "but so many people didn't come forward at the time."
Television programs about the Kecksburg incident have been shown on the History Channel and on the series "Unsolved Mysteries."
"After the shows air, we'll have people from all over the country contact us," Gordon said. "Many of them heard things from family or from friends and many of them moved right after the incident."
The crowd enjoyed the video presentation that included a mixture of photographs from the scene and of eyewitnesses to the UFO and the aftermath.
"He's always so interesting," said Sue Wallace, of Indiana County. "I grew up in the area and now my grandchildren are fascinated by the whole thing."
Wallace herself did not see anything that December night, but that's not unusual for people intrigued with the subject.
"I've spent many years gathering information on a number of things," Gordon said. "I've researched Bigfoot and many UFO sightings, especially in Pennsylvania, but I've never seen anything myself."
Other upcoming programs at the Mt. Pleasant Library include a 1:30 p.m. June 30 presentation of "Mysteries, Tales and Truths" with Michael List; a 6 p.m. July 9 discussion of the book "Meet You in Hell: Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the Bitter Partnership that Transformed America"; and a 2 p.m. July 17 presentation titled "The Egyptian Mummy."
Greensburg native Stan Gordon has been studying these very questions since the incident occurred and has become a devoted researcher and popular lecturer on the subject that has come to be known as "The Kecksburg Incident."
