CANTON — Fort Drum soldiers enrolled in SUNY Canton's Solar Ready Vets program helped to install photovoltaic panels Sept. 29 to power Norwood's landmark fountain on Prospect Street.

This is the latest in a series of restorations initiated through the Save the Fountain campaign and fundraising effort, according to committee co-chair and SUNY Canton employee Teresa L. Sharlow Clemmo.

Clemmo said that Kevin McAdoo, a SUNY Canton faculty member and Solar Ready Vets Program Coordinator offered to help with the project.

"We couldn't have been more grateful for his guidance," she said. "We are so honored and thankful to the veterans who first served our country and are now giving back to our community by assisting with this project."

McAdoo runs the Solar Ready Vets program with the assistance of personnel from Fort Drum, SUNY Canton's Career Ready Education and Success Training (CREST) Center for Workforce Development, and industry professionals. Solar Ready Vets trains soldiers in the growing industry of solar energy, and SUNY Canton's program was one of the first and most successful of these efforts.

The Save the Fountain project came about in May 2016 and has garnered the support of the greater Norwood community. Many area donors have contributed to the project, according to Clemmo.

She said they'd also received support from the Village of Norwood, and its Department of Public Works, Clarkson University Engineer Michael Tremper, and help from many Norwood residents. "It has truly been a community effort," she said.