Shannock Valley Students Honor Veterans

by Jonathan Weaver

A long tradition of saluting military veterans continued last week at Shannock Valley Elementary School in Rural Valley.

The 50-year-old school held its 18th Veterans’ Day program Wednesday afternoon, Learning Support Teacher Eileen Serene said. Serene started organizing the activity with former music teacher Debbie Forringer.

The programs started with American Legion Post 523 veterans, including U.S. Army veteran Charles “Charlie” North– a former school janitor - and Serene’s father, Randall Camperini - a U.S. Army veteran from Kittanning who served during World War II.

“We made it so that it (honored) all community members or relatives. We welcomed them all here and made sure the students knew who veterans were, what they meant to the community, what they mean to our country,” Serene said.

About 40 veterans attended last week’s recognition.

Former Western Pennsylvania Team RWB (Red White Blue) Chapter Captain and U.S. Army Veteran Kate Bielak was the featured speaker during the assembly and introduced the rows of veterans as superheroes.

She told students how they can thank veterans simply by being who they are.

“I want all of you to be the best people you can be. When (veterans) raised their hand and they said ‘I’ll do it – I’ll fight. I’ll sacrifice,’ they did it for little ones and big ones just like you,” Bielak said. “I want (Shannock Valley students) to be the type of people that they say ‘You are worth it.’

“The way you thank a veteran is you be you and you be awesome and amazing and you make America so good and so strong.”

The hour-long ceremony began with the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner by kindergartener Aybrah Zelenski -who Music Teacher Emily King said volunteered for the role.

Historical facts about the five branches of the military – Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force – were also presented by students.

Songs and poems from the fifth and sixth-grade also were presented during the assembly, as was the playing of “Taps.”

U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Mike Crissman, of Kittanning, has served for 15 years and attended last week’s ceremony at the request of his granddaughter, fourth-grader Alana McCausland. Crissman is currently part of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 171st Air Refueling Wing, stationed in Moon Township.

“I try to rotate between the grandchildren, the different programs,” Crissman said. “It’s just an honor and privilege to be around (veterans) that have displayed such heroism – it’s a very humbling thing to realize that we’re part of this great country and able to do this.”

Staff Sergeant Crissman joined the military after graduating from Kittanning Senior High.

Those military veterans invited and their relatives/friends each enjoyed refreshments and cookies following the assembly.

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