West Hills Students Donate to Veterans

by Jonathan Weaver

Spare change collected by a local intermediate school added up to thousands of dollars for local veterans last week.

During Thursday’s annual Veterans’ Day assembly, the newly-formed Student Council presented members of the Armstrong Veteran’s Alliance with a check for nearly $2,200.

School Counselor Dan Walters, one of the five Student Council advisors, praised the students for their donation. Both of Walters’ grandfathers served in the military.

“These kids have done a great job so far – this is a great thing,” Walters said. “All the credit goes to these young men and women and all the students here at (West Hills Intermediate).”

Another advisor - Sixth-grade Math Teacher Krista Ritzert – said the student competition only took place during the first 10 days of November.

“I was amazed at the outpouring of support that the students showed for our veterans with the donation,” Ritzert said. “The bulk of that money came in in change. We worked really hard to get the money counted every day and let the kids know where each grade level was at so we had that competition going, but it was a positive competition.

“In the end, everybody won when we were able to present that check.”

Ritzert’s grandfathers also served in the military.

Alliance Founders Frank White and Rick Reesman thanked students for their donation and said the money will spent to aid local veterans. Fellow veteran and founder Steve Woodside, a retired U.S. Army veteran, was unable to attend Thursday.

“We formed the Alliance four years ago. We decided we wanted to do something for local veterans in Armstrong County instead of sending the money to the Wounded Warrior Project,” Reesman said.

Petty Officer, First Class, Reesman served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, including during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

White, a veteran of the U.S. Army Green Beret Special Forces who was then a training sergeant, said past Alliance projects include remodeling bathrooms at the Mechling-Shakley Veterans Center in Cowansville, supplying finances to build a bridge for a quadriplegic veteran and helping veterans with regular bills and for veteran’s children.

“It was a great-great feeling, and it is a shot of adrenaline to see the students are involved in this,” White said. “Every penny given was given by the children and I can’t say how thankful I am of their efforts and hard work.”

The most ‘Penny Wars’ points were earned by the seven fourth-grade classes – earning them a pizza party.

U.S. Army Major Gerald Lenavitt – of East Franklin Township – was to be the guest speaker at the assembly, but was unable to attend due to illness. His daughter – West Hills Intermediate fifth-grade teacher Jill Carino – gave her father’s speech.

In his remarks, Lenavitt, a 24 year veteran, said students are becoming patriots and encouraged them to continue displaying pride in the country – prompting all veterans to salute students.

Sixth-grade students also recited memorable speeches from U.S. Presidents regarding veterans and notable military conflicts.

West Hills Intermediate Paraprofessional Sandy Seefeld was also recognized for her service in the U.S. Air Force.

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