For 20th year, Hampton honors its hero veterans

The Hampton Heroes program, in its 20th year, honored nine veterans on a gorgeous day on Hampton Middle School’s Fridley Field.

The Nov. 9 event recognized local veterans and thanked them for their service. The middle school band, chorus and orchestra performed. The high school band put on a show called “Thank You.”

Nominations were open to veterans who live and work in the Hampton area and this year allowed those who work in the area to nominate a veteran they knew.

“(Hampton Heroes) is a long-standing tradition,” said Marlynn Lux, middle school principal. “It is a district event, and the school levels all take turns planning the yearly event and so this year was the turn for Hampton Middle School.”

“I think the Hampton Heroes event is so important because it is important to remember veterans and to hear their stories,” said Chad Himmler, Hampton High School band director. “From the marching band’s perspective, to be able to perform our final show of the year at the event was absolutely amazing.”

The nine veterans honored this year were Dominador C. Balason of Chesapeake, Va., Thomas R. Berlin of Brockway, Joe Burneff of Gibsonia, Lester Dieckmann of Allison Park, Keith W. Essig of Allison Park, Louis Naccarato of Glenshaw, Mark Ninehouser of Gibsonia, Daniel J. Paga Jr. of Gibsonia and Adam Zaffuto of Imperial.

“It was a tremendous honor to be inducted as a Hampton Hero,” said Balason, father of Hampton School Board member Denise Balason. “It is wonderful that the school district honors veterans in such a special way.”

Eric McElvenny, who was the guest speaker at the event, is a veteran and endurance athlete living in Pittsburgh with his wife Rachel and three children. McElvenny was deployed three times while in the Marines. He was wounded during his final tour in Afghanistan after he stepped on an IED, losing the lower part of his leg.

“I had the privilege of speaking at Hampton School District’s Hampton Heroes event. The assembly was absolutely amazing. I am grateful for (Hampton’s) efforts in honoring our military,” said McElvenny.

McElvenny has not allowed his injury to dictate how he would live his life. He finished an Ironman race in Kona, Hawaii, and represented the United States in the Tokyo Paralympics in the triathlon event.

“The assembly really did have a special feel this year,” said Lux. “The nine heroes sat on the field, and we had about 50 other veterans in attendance. During the assembly we actually called out all of the names of the veterans in attendance.”