Charleroi Area hosts 14th annual tribute to veterans

If you ask residents in the Magic City what makes Charleroi so special, they will probably have a few different answers.

On Wednesday, one of those answers was very evident as thousands of students, faculty, staff and residents filled the gymnasium for the Charleroi Area School District’s 14th annual Veterans Day program. In addition to military veterans, parents and students, school board members Thomas Nutting, Adele Hopkins, Barbara Pepper, Elaine Pappasergi and Washington County Commissioners Larry Maggi, Harlan G. Shober Jr. and Diana Irey Vaughan attended the event.

“There are a lot of great days here in the Charleroi Area School District,” Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich said. “But this one is by far my favorite and let me tell you why:

Here we have 1,500 students, 150 faculty and staff members who work throughout the year to plan and practice, all show we can show our appreciation for you, our veterans, and the sacrifices you have made for us.”

Without the sacrifice of the men and women who serve our country, the opportunity to educate area youth would not be possible, Zelich added.

“I talk a lot about what makes Charleroi so special, in the region and locally, and you are witnessing that today,” he said. “You have awarded us these wonderful opportunities, to be educated, to teach children and continue learning everyday.”

The program on Wednesday was full of heartfelt musical performances by student musicians in the middle and high school ceremonial and symphonic bands; elementary, middle and high school choirs and bands and also featured special tributes from local area Cub and Girl Scout troops who led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Elementary center Assistant Principal Mark Killinger organized the ceremony for real-life heroes.

“A lot of the time that phrase refers to our law enforcement, our paramedics or our firefighters,” Killinger said. “While that is true, it also stands very true for the men and women who serve our country.”

Looking around the room, school board President Ken Wiltz was left awestruck.

“Looking at the heroes sitting in front of me, many of who are in the stands and thinking of those who are only with us in spirit, humbles and awes me,” Wiltz said. “Many of these heroes did not ask to leave their homes and families. They did not go to war because they love fighting. They went to war because they were called to be a part of something bigger than themselves.”

These heroes, he added, are extraordinary.

“These ordinary heroes responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times and rose to our nations call because they wanted to protect our homeland and their families.”

Charleroi senior Tristan Lantz, who served as keynote speaker for the ceremony, will soon rise to the same call.

The son of Wes Lantz Jr. and Michele, of North Charleroi, he recently enlisted in the military.

About two months ago, he decided to begin talking to a recruiter about potential opportunities to carry on a long-standing family tradition of military service.

His great-grandfather, Floyd, served in the Navy during World War II; his grandfather, Wes Lantz Sr., served in the Army; his father served as an aviation mechanic in the Army. Tristan will leave for basic training in Ft. Jackson, S.C., where he will begin training to become a wheeled-vehicle mechanic. “I will be fourth-generation military,” he said. “That’s something I am really proud of.”

Although he has not yet begun his journey, people are already thankful for his decision,

Following the program students and local elected officials and veterans who came before him, congratulated him on his accomplishment, thanked him, shook his hand or gave him a supportive hug. Tristan would humbly smile or nod, but to him the decision was easy.

“It means a lot to me, it really does,” Tristan said. “But helping my community and my country is just how I was raised.” He understands the sacrifice, but to him it is worthwhile. “It is time away from your family, relying on letters, but it’s more than that,” he said. “It’s about bettering myself and my country and that’s the best thing I could ever do.” Hearts melted after Tristan finished his speech as he was met with a big embrace by World War II veteran Armand Lorenzi. Now 92, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944. Lorenzi served in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

In 1945, he became part of the 94th Infantry Division in Lt. Gen. George S. Patton’s 3rd Army, where he earned the rank of Technical Corporal serving throughout Europe.

Though many of his comrades have since passed on, Lorenzi vividly remembers being assigned to Core Masters in Munich to drive tankers of gasoline throughout the country — when he had never driven a truck.

During his military career, he was honored with a Gold Star, Gold Conduct, European Theater medals — just to name a few.

His dedication did not retire when he left the armed forces.

Each year, he insists on walking — not riding in a car — shoulder to shoulder with his comrades in Veterans Day parades.

Lorenzi and his girlfriend, Mary Lou, said it was heartwarming to hear what Tristan had to say about joining the military.

“It was just so sweet to see them connect,” she said. “This entire event, you can just feel the love in the room. It’s wonderful.”