AVSD Honors Veterans with Annual Breakfast

Frank DePoli was enjoying himself Wednesday morning, November 11.

Sitting among friends and fellow veterans, he shared laughs, conversation and a good breakfast during the Allegheny Valley School District's annual Veterans Day celebration at Springdale Jr-Sr High School.

He was grateful for the chance to get together with old friends and for the effort the district put into making the morning special.

But when asked what Veterans Day meant to him personally, DePoli grew a little emotional.

"For me, and I think for a lot of veterans, today is about honoring and recognizing those who served and didn't make it back home," he said.

It was a reminder that while Veterans Day is an occasion for celebration and gratitude, it is also a time for reflection.

DePoli was among approximately two dozen veterans from the community and district who gathered for the annual breakfast honoring those who served in the Armed Forces.

"This has always been a wonderful event," DePoli said. "They put everything together, and all we had to do was just show up and enjoy ourselves. We are so very grateful for this special recognition."

The morning began with breakfast prepared by the district's Food Services Department, giving the veterans an opportunity to share stories, renew friendships and enjoy each other's company.

A video presentation featured musical performances by the Acmetonia Chamber Singers and the Springdale Jr-Sr High School Choir.

The district's youngest voices were also part of the program.

Four sixth-grade students read their entries in the annual Veterans Day essay contest. Madalena Robertson earned first place, while Minah Ritter, Isaac Carichner and Elias Grosik were recognized as runners-up.

District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Graczyk thanked the veterans for their service and told those gathered that the district was honored to continue hosting the annual event.

For one district administrator, Wednesday's gathering was particularly meaningful.

Greg Heavner, the retiring principal of Acmetonia Elementary School, has been organizing Veterans Day programs in the district for years.

And he has seen the celebration take many forms.

Some years, it has been a breakfast like Wednesday's gathering. Other years, the district has hosted large assemblies in the high school gymnasium, bringing students and veterans together for a more elaborate program.

But for Heavner, the size of the event has never been the point.

"You guys have been with me a long time," Heavner told the veterans, acknowledging the relationships that have developed over the years.

He knows what the day means to the men and women who attend.

"These guys appreciate it. It gives them a chance to get together with one another, and it's a way for us to tell them we appreciate their service and the sacrifices they made," Heavner said.

"This is a fine group of gentlemen who deserve events like this. They want to know we remember their service and sacrifice."

With retirement approaching, Heavner's role in organizing the district's annual celebration is coming to an end. But the connections built over the years, and the importance of recognizing those who served, remain.

For DePoli, Wednesday's gathering offered an opportunity to laugh and enjoy time with fellow veterans, while also remembering those who never made it home.

The Allegheny Valley School District is honored to host these veterans each year and extends its sincere gratitude to all veterans for their service and sacrifice.