Chartiers Valley High School honors veterans

Today’s second-grader is tomorrow’s grandparent telling a possibly incredulous child:

“I once met a World War II veteran.”

Fast-forward, let’s say, half a century, and an 8-year-old may be the one who’s hearing the story. Do the math, and you’re looking at the youngster being born a full 120 years after V-J Day.

That’s what you start to call ancient history.

Chartiers Valley Primary School students in Shelley Territ’s class were among those attending the high school’s annual Veterans Day assembly on Nov. 10, and among the guests of honor was Joe Kallist, 97, who served for three years in the U.S. Merchant Marine and Army.

Territ’s dedication to teaching the importance of preserving the past resulted in her students last year producing the 176-page book “Chartiers Valley History for Kids.”

During the assembly, organizer Dave Harhai reinforced the concept as it applies to veterans by quoting from Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero:

“Poor is the nation that has no heroes. Poorer still is the nation that having heroes, fails to remember and honor them.”

Harhai, who teaches Advanced Placement social studies classes at the high school, further acknowledged those who served in the military.

“We’re all here today, enjoying the privileges of living in a great country, because of people like this,” he said. “And it’s definitely appropriate that we pause today to say thank you to our veterans.”

Along with Kallist, attending the event to be honored were:

• Jack Bickell, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years

• Jerry Goehner, Air Force, 32 years

• Wesley Hutchison, Navy, three years

• Raymond Bruce Leary, Air Force, four years

• Frank Misitis, Marine Corps, four years

• Scott Nowak, Merchant Marine, more than 40 years

• State Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, Marine Corps, four years

• Jim Sams, Air Force, four years

• Hal Schmitt, Air Force, four years

• Adam Schwiederowski, Marine Corps, 20 years

• Ronald Strang, a 2003 Chartiers Valley High School graduate, Marine Corps, seven years

• Steven Tornabene, Air Force, 22 years

• Robert Wanker, Air Force, eight years

The high school Select and Cadenza Choir, directed by Noah Woodward, provided music for the occasion, singing “God Bless America” and Charles Ives’ “In Flanders Fields,” plus the national anthem while classmates presented colors with the U.S. flag.