Western Pennsylvania celebrates Marc Fogel’s freedom
When television screens showed Marc Fogel in the White House, Iron City Beer in hand, Pennsylvanians could celebrate Fogel’s freedom from his yearslong captivity in a Russian prison.
Fogel landed at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday night, Feb. 11, wearing a Steelers winter hat and an American flag draped around his shoulders. His return to U.S. soil marked the end of a chaotic and fearful 3 1/2 years for his family and friends in Butler County.
Fogel’s name at times trended on social media, while residents, local businesses and public figures made posts celebrating Fogel’s freedom. A post from the Butler Eagle sharing the article received many comments of celebration and congratulations to the Fogel family.
Fogel’s return occurred right as the Butler Art Center & Gallery on Main Street was preparing to unveil a portrait of him Saturday. The collaborative project includes 50 individual squares made by 50 artists that have different meanings.
Paul Scanlon, a board member at the Butler Art Center, said the reaction around the center was one of shock and happiness when the news of Fogel’s release. The news will change the tone of the unveiling Saturday.
“It’s turned into a celebration,” Scanlon said, adding he expects a big crowd on Saturday.
The news of Fogel’s release was very unexpected. As previously reported, Fogel’s mother, Malphine, did not know her son was coming home until she got a call from him early Tuesday morning, when he was about to board a plane in Moscow.
“It came out of the blue,” Larry Sassone, a volunteer at the art center, said. “There really wasn’t any new chatter about it.”
Marc Serrao, owner of Oakmont Bakery, said many of the preorders for their “Home Sweet Home” cookies, which feature pictures of Fogel on them in icing, came from residents of Butler County. Fogel, a Butler native, lives in Oakmont.
All proceeds made from the cookies will go directly to the Fogel family.
“I’ve followed this for a long time. He lived in Oakmont for a while and his kids went to the same elementary school as my two grandsons,” Serrao said. “I saw stories about it, and when my son and I heard, my son called and said, ‘Why don’t we make cookies and donate all the proceeds to him?’”
The cookies, which feature two different pictures of Fogel — one of him on the plane and one getting off — will be sold for three days, at $2.50 apiece.
“We’re a small town with a big heart, Serrao said. “It’s a time for the nation to celebrate something great, that we can wrap our heads around.”
