Perry area maps Memorial Day plans
Perryopolis and Perry Township Veterans of Foreign Wars Gold Star Post 7023 and American Legion Post 752 will conduct a Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. May 25 at the Frazier High School auditorium. The service will begin with the playing of the national anthem by the Frazier High School/Middle School Band directed by Rod Staggers. Boy Scout Troop 625 and Scoutmaster John Snyder; Cadette 54078, leaders Dana Boyd and Lorri Clem; and Cub Scout Pack 626 and Pack leader Lisa Maurer will then recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison with the audience. The Rev. David K. Means, pastor of the Methodist Church Parsonage in Perryopolis, will give the invocation.
Peter P. Pierotti, chairman of the Memorial Day committee, will begin the program with brief remarks. George Chubboy, commander of the VFW Post 7023, will then deliver the welcoming address.
Norman L. Zimmerman, commander of American Legion Post 752, will introduce the dignitaries attending the services.
John Cernuska, Post 7023 auditor, will then present the Patriotic Flag Raising Award to the following flag raisers: grade 8, Josh Potter and Rebecca Hickle; Central School, Emily Marshall, Jacob Hoffman, Edward Harkins, and Nicolena Girvin; Perry Elementary, regulars are Jakeb Corbett, Noah Santo, and Zachary Rebottini, with alternates, Sidney Matty, James Cahill and Tom King. These volunteers raise and lower the American flag at Frazier Middle School, Perry Elementary and Central Elementary Schools. Organizers also will thank teachers Donna Clark, Frazier Middle School; Mary Kay Toth, Central Elementary; and Susan Guiser, Perry Elementary.
Sean Bednar and Joey Reschenthaler, Frazier Middle School students, are the co-winners of the Patriots Pen contest, “Why I am a Patriot.” They will be presented their awards, which are sponsored by the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary.
Pierotti will then introduce the post’s Voice of Democracy contest winner, Steven T. Toth. Toth will then present his winning oration on the theme of “Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefits, Today’s Youth.
Allen Q. Jones, past VFW department commander, Pennsylvania, will be the keynote speaker.
The Frazier band will then perform a medley of patriotic music
Following the musical program, Tony Fao, co-chairman of the program committee, will memorialize comrades who died in 2008 and 2009 by reading their names and then pausing for a moment of silence in their honor.
The following veterans will be honored: Reginald Reggie Bates, Walter Brooks, Richard Lee Brown, Ryan M. Burkholder, James W. Bush Jr., Robert W. Buttermore III, William L. Ciavarra, Victor A. Curcio, Charles F. Darney, Harry G. Eberts, John W. Sparky Ehrhardt, John Erdely Jr., George J. Estok Jr., Patsy M. Fao, James A. Gilleland, Daniel G. Gimmel, Nicholas Haluschak, James F. Harmon, Frederick R. Koller Jr., Henry T. Knight, Steve Kontaxes, George Krivonick, James N. Lamanna, Ernest R. Little, Emerson Lowery, Jerry R. Martini, Silvio R. Martini Sr., Leonard A. Matty, Ronald E. Pickstone, Michael A. Rebidas, Martin A. Rebish, Glenn Roberts, Joseph W. Sinal, Donald R. Singleton, Edward R. Stunja Sr. and John Wachinski.
Ross Ackinclose, authorized lay minister, will give the benediction. The services will continue at the honor roll adjacent to the school.
Boy Scout Troop 625 will raise the American flag and lower it to half-staff and place wreaths at the honor roll. Mike Vindivich will give the memorial and dedication prayer.
The ceremonial firing squad, under the direction of Tony A. Fao Sr. and under the command of George Timko, will then fire the traditional salute for fallen comrades. Ending the tribute will be the playing of taps by Frazier band buglers Emily Sue Cowen and Elizabeth Layhew. Following the observance at the Perryopolis Honor Roll, VFW Post 7023, American Legion Post 752, all veterans and the public are asked to participate in Memorial Day services at the honor roll in Layton where an invocation, memorial service and benediction will be given.
Both programs are dedicated in honor of the veterans who served in Iraq.