Catherine Cercone Miller, mayor of Struthers

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who made the Union Pacific Big Boy visit to Struthers on July 12 such an unforgettable historic success.

I cannot express how proud I am of our Struthers Team. What we accomplished together was nothing short of extraordinary. When the Big Boy finally rolled into our city, the feeling was overwhelming. It was one of those rare moments when we all had to stop, take a deep breath and simply soak it all in. It was a day our community will never forget.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our downtown businesses and property owners, who worked tirelessly to make our city shine. Thank you to Donavitos, Selah, ECMSI, Astro Shapes, Sulmona Valley, Rudzik, Green Leaf, WesBanco, Monk’s, Bigley Landscaping, the Cene Family, MotherTrucker, Eric Rauschenbach, Kevin Walsh, Melanie Rauschenbach, Republic Services, Shields Outdoor, St. Anthony’s Society, Knoll Run Golf Course, TC Redi Mix, Casey Equipment, the Yellich Family, Dr. and Sherry Andrews, Becker Funeral Home, Parkside Church, Simon Roofing, Purple Cat, Mike Staff and the Struthers Rotary Garden Club.

Thank you to all of our amazing vendors, including Selah, Donavitos, Belleria, The Collingwood Center, Hot Diggity Dog, Hogshead BBQ, Red Rican, Baked Witches Cheesecakery, Dunkin, Sulmona Valley, Struthers Rotary, Maplecrest, Frytanic, The Youngstown Clothing Company, Knightline, Cut N Toast, The Youngstown Model Railroad Association, The Mahoning Valley Railroad Heritage Association, CASTLO, AMVETS Post 44, Habitat for Humanity, The Struthers Historical Society, Cheryl Roddy, Mike and Erin Donofrio, Joe Lattanzio and Struthers Chair and Tent, Mesaros’s Towing and Recovery, the Model T Car Club, Dan Grich, Leah, Gobel’s Towing, and Card My Yard.

A very special thank you goes to Council President Mike Patrick for sponsoring an incredible day of entertainment featuring The Decades, Candace Campana, The House Band, Vintage Vinyl and Jim Baluck.

Thank you to JAC Live and 42 Inc. for generously donating the stage, sound, and production during one of their busiest weeks of the year with Y-Live.

To WKBN, WFMJ, WYTV, The Vindicator, Tribune Chronicle, every news outlet, drone operator, photographer, and social media creator who helped tell our story — thank you for sharing Struthers with the world.

Thank you to the Youngstown Police Department and Campbell Police Department for providing additional support throughout the event.

To everyone who donated items for the Union Pacific crew’s welcome bags — thank you for showing them the generosity that defines our community.

To Taylor Dudley, thank you for answering what felt like millions of phone calls and helping keep everything organized behind the scenes.

To the Struthers Rotary, thank you for always believing in our city and supporting us in countless ways. From helping with the commemorative coins to continually investing in our community, we simply would not be where we are without you.

To Struthers R.O.A.R., we are incredibly fortunate to have you in our city. The support you’ve provided in such a short amount of time has been remarkable, and we are grateful for every volunteer and every hour you gave.

To the Union Pacific Police Department, thank you for keeping everyone safe, protecting the Big Boy, and for the many compliments you shared about our city and our team.

To Union Pacific Railroad, thank you for preserving this magnificent locomotive and allowing communities across America to experience its history. You brought people together in a way few things can.

To Struthers City Schools, our Board of Education, and our transportation department — thank you for always stepping up to help. We deeply value our partnership and appreciate your willingness to support the city whenever called upon.

To Bruce Silvernail, thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion throughout this journey. Your enthusiasm helped educate and inspire so many.

To Struthers City Council, thank you for being true partners. I often say that the reason we accomplish so much is because we work together. Your willingness to serve, collaborate, and support one another is the foundation and the KEY of everything we do.

Three departments were the real STARS of the show: Our Police, Fire & EMT and Street departments.

To our Struthers Street Department, thank you for your incredible preparation, hard work and cleanup efforts. The entire crew truly could not have done more. You consistently make our city proud.

To our Struthers Fire Department, the Struthers Firemen’s Association, University Hospitals EMS and our neighboring fire departments — thank you for your professionalism and dedication. Watching your response from above, I was amazed by your speed, coordination and compassion. We are blessed to have such outstanding first responders.

To our Struthers Police Department, words cannot adequately express my gratitude. The planning, coordination and professionalism you demonstrated over the past several weeks were nothing short of extraordinary. I have never received so many compliments about our police department. Several Union Pacific police officers personally told me they had never worked with a department quite like ours. That is a testament to each and every one of you.

To Anthony Lariccia and Bill Minchin, thank you for being my partners through every challenge. Every day brings something new, and I simply could not do this job without your dedication, wisdom and friendship. I trust you both completely and am incredibly thankful for everything you do.

And finally, to Chief Tim Roddy. None of this would have happened without your vision. You are never satisfied with simply maintaining the status quo — you are always dreaming bigger for our little city. Your passion, leadership and determination continue to inspire all of us. Thank you for believing that Struthers is capable of extraordinary things and for helping make those dreams a reality.

Most of all, thank you to the people of Struthers.

This event wasn’t just about a train. It was about community. It was about pride. It was about proving what can happen when neighbors, businesses, volunteers, schools, churches, first responders, city employees and local organizations all come together with one common goal.

For one unforgettable day, Struthers welcomed thousands of visitors from across the country. They left talking not only about the Big Boy — but about the warmth, hospitality and pride of the people who call this city home.

Until the next big event — and there will be another — we’ll continue doing what Struthers has always done best. We’ll continue to Keep Smiling.

P.S. To my husband — thank you for putting up with me for the last month and a half. Your patience, encouragement and love carried me through every late night and every stressful moment. You are my rock, and I couldn’t do any of this without you.

Catherine Cercone Miller is the mayor of Struthers.