CV Students Pay Tribute to Veterans

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When Mike Bonacci and others began planning a Veterans Day service at School nearly a decade ago, the school administrator wanted his students to be face-to-face with the men and women who served this country.

Eight years later, the former high school principal and Vietnam War veteran thinks the students have a better appreciation for sacrifice and honor.

“It gives them a much better appreciation about what’s going on in the world,” Bonacci said. “And they’re very responsive to this.”

The entire student body gathered at 10 a.m. Friday as several students read the biographies of nine local veterans standing at attention on a small stage. Several other veterans stood at attention on the sidewalk while an honor guard presented the colors and raised the American flag.

After the short ceremony, the vets – whose service ranged from World War II to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars – met with a few of the students for lunch to share stories.

Emma Grossman, a high school junior, said she was looking forward to meeting with the vets to hear their stories.

“I’ve been in the audience (the first two years) and I had a chance to announce this year,” Emma said. “It means much more to me to be able to meet them and talk with them.”

Dave Harhai, a high school social studies teacher who helped organize the event, asked the student to acknowledge each veteran’s sacrifice and service with “a simple thank you.”

“When you hear of some schools not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance … it is refreshing that we have this every year and have the students participate in it.”

The following veterans were honored during the service.

• Frank Kravetz (World War II) - Mr. Frank Kravetz had just returned to his Bomb Groups base after being on leave with his crew and celebrating his 21st birthday in London. Four days later, on a mission to Hitler’s most fortified stronghold in Germany, he manned the tail section as a replacement gunner on a B-17. Over 1,000 bombers took to the sky on their way to the target, comprising the largest single air assault for the war. Mr. Kravetz was shot in the leg, downed over Germany and taken prisoner on November 2, 1944. Mr. Kravetz left Germany for freedom on May 8, 1945 after six months in captivity. He now lives in Pittsburgh with his wife of 66 years, Anne.

• Floyd Laughlin (World War II) - Mr. Floyd Laughlin served the United States in World War II. He was a corporal technician and was on radar duty on December 7, 1941 when 360 Japanese planes launched a bombing raid that sunk 18 ships and destroyed 375 United States planes. This was the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was discharged on September 19, 1945 after serving from the first to the last day in World War II.

• Larry Donovan (Korean War) - Mr. Larry Donovan served the United States during the Korean War. He spent 33 months in a North Korean prisoner of war camp. For nearly three years, he lived in deplorable conditions and survived on small portions of gruel, barely enough to keep him alive, served by his captors. Mr. Donovan is a former teacher in the Chartiers Valley School District.

• Mike Bonacci (Vietnam War) - Dr. Michael Bonacci served the United States during the Vietnam War. One of his main responsibilities while serving in Vietnam was to identify American soldiers who had been killed in battle and write letters home to their next of kin. Dr. Bonacci experienced the anger of the resistance movement upon his return to the United States. Dr. Bonacci is a former Principal of Chartiers Valley High School.

• Al Robinson (Vietnam War) - Mr. Al Robinson served in the United States Marines during the Vietnam War. He fought in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, one of the worst period of the war. He was wounded twice and medevac’d to the United States. He served veterans back in the United States for 28 years until his retirement.

•  Ronald Laughlin (Gulf War) - Mr. Ronald Laughlin served the United States in the Gulf War. He joined the 112th Tactical Fighter Group in the PA Air National Guard in 1972 as a Security Policeman. He was activated for Desert Shield/Desert Storm in December 1990. As an Area Supervisor, he oversaw 22 combat posts scattered throughout the interior of the base and flight lines. He retired with 28 years of service.

• Edward Greiner, Jr: (Iraq and Afghanistan wars) - Mr. Edward Greiner is currently a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army and has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Greiner was deployed to Afghanistan from April 2005-06 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He then volunteered for “the Surge” into Baghdad, Iraq from January 2007 to March 2008. He has served in the army for 7.5 years with 27 months in combat.

• Anthony Shaffer (Iraq and Afghanistan wars) - Mr. Anthony Shaffer has served in the United States Army for over 14 years. He was deployed in support of combat operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom for a total of 38 months. Prior to this, he had been stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with the 82nd Airborne Division and Fort Carson, Colorado with the 4th Infantry Division.

• Heather Serdy (Iraq and Afghanistan wars) - Ms. Heather Serdy has served in the United States Army for over 19 years and was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. She has been a military policeman, journalist, career counselor and broadcast journalist for the United States Army, just to name a few of the skilled services she has provided.