It was business before pleasure at the Westmoreland County Airshow WWII Dance Benefit on May 25 at DeNunzio’s Italian Chophouse at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity.
Paying a Memorial Day tribute to fallen comrades, Leonard Dulik, Stanley Markiewicz, William Williams and John Chearney of Mt. Pleasant American Legion Post 446 presented the colors and the Glass City Swing Band played the national anthem.
Next came a video on the Swingin’ With Creative Arts Therapy Program of GCSB Arts, Education and Wellness, the Jeannette-based nonprofit that sponsors the band. The organization’s mission is to benefit others through music. Information is available at glasscityswingband.org.
The main event was dancing to the big band music so beloved of the Greatest Generation and those who have followed.
Witness to the music’s staying power was an opening dance number by Ryan and Sarah Hejnosz of Pittsburgh’s South Side, recent graduates of Saint Vincent College, where they ran the student swing dance club.
Event organizers included GCSB co-founders Joy Procida and Jill Procida, board President Anita Leonard and board member Valerie Uschock. Also on the board are Deyo Cayten, Peggie Watson and Raven Dickson.
Seen getting their swing on: Larry Leonard, Joe and Pat Erdelsky, Daniel and Julie Heckmann, John and Brenda DeMeno, Ernie and Kim Kurtz, Gary and Melanie Gearhart, Cathy Miller, Cindy Klingensmith, Andrew Brock and Kasey McIntosh, Jeff and Marcia Bauman and Jerry and Judy Gresko, owners of TDI Gresko Ballroom Dance in downtown Greensburg.
