Mon Valley veterans honored at annual luncheon

Roughly 100 people were recognized at the event, which was hosted by state Rep. Eric Davanzo.

Veterans of all ages and from all military branches came to the annual Veterans Luncheon hosted Friday by state Rep. Eric Davanzo, R-Smithton.

Around 100 veterans were recognized at the event at St. Spyridon Hellenic Center in Monessen.

“Any time we can bring the community together, honoring our veterans for their sacrifice, it’s definitely worth it,” Davanzo said. “I’m all in, and you can see that my staff is very passionate about this. They all love our country. They love our veterans.”

Davanzo gave major credit to his staff for helping put the event together, especially Fallyn Weightman, his district office manager. During the luncheon, Davanzo recognized Weightman with a certificate for all the effort she put into the event.

“This is my love language,” Weightman said to veterans at the event. “This is my way to thank you. I appreciate every single one of you who has served. We love this country. We can’t thank you enough. This is the least that we can do.”

The event began with the posting of the colors and a salute by Mount Pleasant American Legion Post 446. The Yough Senior High School Chorus students performed the U.S. national anthem.

Nate Nevala, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, led the pledge of allegiance, and after some introductions, veterans and their families started to dig into food prepared by By George of Monessen.

Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center culinary students helped serve lunch, prepare dessert and arrange the centerpieces.

Two poems were read, one by U.S. Navy veteran Mi- chael Tkacs titled “Fallen Soldiers” and another by Yough High School student Jacob Booher called “A Student’s Thank You.”

The keynote speaker was Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas Judge Timothy A. Krieger, who highlighted the importance of veterans telling the stories of things they faced during their service.

Krieger, a U.S. Navy veteran, related tales of his service during his speech at the luncheon.

“We’re not like Lieutenant (Presley) O’Bannon, we’re not like George Washington, we’re not like Stephen Decatur,” Krieger said, “That’s true, but we wouldn’t know their stories unless someone told somebody.

“Likewise, every one of us has a story that our neighbors need to know. Our kids need to know, our grandkids need to know, and these young people need to know because they’ll carry on after we’re gone. So I really want to just encourage you, for your own sake, it’s good to tell these stories.”

Among the veterans recognized Friday was Ron Chromulak, who was recently added to the Wall of Fame at Monessen High School.

“It was very humbling to be nominated and inducted into the Wall of Fame,” Chromulak said. “It’s something that I guess not everybody has an opportunity to enjoy and to get a citation from the House of Representatives.

“Again, this is another humbling experience, and I’m telling you, I’m so grateful to Eric for doing this, and believe me, I’m grateful that I live in the greatest country in the world.”

Chromulak entered the Air Force seven days after graduation and went on to serve more than 21 years around the world in aircrew life support systems. After the military, Chromulak has served the Monessen community in many ways, including as the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and the Monessen WWII Tank Memorial Chromulak also helped with other memorials in the city, including a memorial plaque that was recently placed at Monessen City Hall.

Many veterans were presented with certificates in recognition of their service. The Yough chorus students lined up by Davanzo and hand-delivered the certificates to their respective veterans.

Marine veteran Angelo Loulis, who served in World War II and will turn 98 in December, said events like Friday’s luncheon give veterans a chance to connect with people they have something in common with.

The Mount Pleasant American Legion retired colors, did a 21-gun salute and performed “Taps” to conclude the event.

As veterans walked out of the Hellenic Center, many of them had smiles on their faces as they knew they were loved by their community.