Musical tribute to veterans at McKeesport Area High School

Choir, band and orchestra students presented a variety of patriotic songs.

McKeesport Area School District students displayed their range of musical talents while expressing gratitude to area veterans Tuesday during the district’s Veterans Day program.

Hundreds of veterans and their families attended the program, which featured multiple musical performances by students. Among those highlighting the importance of veterans was Superintendent Don MacFann.

“Upon coming in here, as I listen to certain conversations, I recognize the common theme, a theme which focuses around school, community and family and country,” MacFann said. “As I listen and observe, it takes me back to when I was a young man attending high school.

“For myself growing up, I can recall many conversations with older family members, friends and neighbors who were mostly veterans from the Vietnam or World War II era, and back then, these conversations always seemed to focus upon school, family and community and country.”

MacFann recalled a 90-year-old veteran he knew who spoke in broken English and had no formal schooling. Despite that, MacFann considered him one of the smartest people he has ever met.

“He said to me, no matter where you go in this great big world, you will never do anything to embarrass your school,” MacFann said, “you’ll never do anything to embarrass your family and community and you’ll never do anything to embarrass your country.

“And after 30 years, I still remember that advice, and until this very day, every time I find myself thinking about doing something less than appropriate, I think of that advice.”

After MacFann’s speech, students started their tribute.

Air Force JROTC students in their uniforms did the presentation of colors. While they held the American and Pennsylvania flags up high, the high school combined choirs group performed “The Star Spangled Banner.” They followed with “God Bless America” and “Heave Ho!”

The high school symphonic band performed “To Honor, Thank, and Remember” and the “Armed Forces Salute,” a collection of the official songs of the six branches of the U.S. military.

While the final song was performed, the names of all veterans being recognized for their service were displayed on screens in the auditorium. Veterans from each branch stood up and received a round of applause during their portion of the tune.

The names of veterans who have passed away or could not make it to the event were also shown, bringing the total for the program to more than 600.

The high school treble and a cappella choirs performed “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Prayer of the Children,” a song that highlights the suffering of children in war time.

The high school string orchestra performed several pieces, with the combined choirs ending the event with “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”

The program also featured videos highlighting what it means to be in the military, what veterans went through and the impact they have made on the world and the United States over the years.

Band Director Noah Crawford and choir Director Beth Eger said the students were excited to put on a show for veterans. Eger added that it’s one of the events that the students most looked forward to doing.

Eger said the school has been presenting a Veterans Day Program for around 15 years. Typically, they’ve held it in the morning, but this year they decided to move it to the evening.

“A lot of the kids understand the significance of this, and so they really put a lot of time and energy into making it the best they can,” Crawford said.

Crawford and Eger also worked with string orchestra Director Sarah Persin and multimedia presentation Coordinator Patrick Gobbel.

U.S. Navy veterans Frank Drnevich Jr. and Frank Simonetta said they were excited to see veterans get the recognition they deserve. They joined the military during the Vietnam War through the buddy system and have been friends for a long time.

“Unfortunately, during the Vietnam era, we weren’t very popular,” Drnevich said. “And we’re not really used to this. I mean, we are now, because that’s in the past, but during that time, it wasn’t very easy.”