North Warren Regional High School last week honored more than 70 veterans, thanking them in person for their service to the United States.
The Voices of Veterans program devotes an entire day to welcoming retired and active-service members of the military. The day starts with breakfast shared by students and vets. That is followed by an all-school assembly.
Each guest/veteran was assigned an escort and introduced by name and service in the North Warren auditorium.
“Our veterans and active-duty service members from all branches of the United States military,” said student Jack Wenner, who welcomed the veterans and students to the assembly. “Today marks perhaps the most incredible opportunity for our North Warren family, one where we have the chance to gather and show our most sincere gratitude for our heroes.”
After the veterans were welcomed, the Lehigh Valley Fleet Reserve Branch 115 conducted the flag ceremony, followed by student Ella Hicok leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Jessica Konkus singing the National Anthem. A musical tribute to the Armed Forces was performed by the North Warren Regional Choir and Marching Band.
The keynote speaker, retired Air Force Col. James Sikra, is a 1961 graduate of Phillipsburg High School.
He told the North Warren students about his career as an engineer developing stealth technologies and other sciences for the military. Afterwards, Col. Sikra, who began his career during the tumultuous anti-military Vietnam era, described how overwhelmed he and the other vets were with their warm welcome at North Warren High School.
“This is phenomenal,” Sikra said. “Absolutely phenomenal. I am blown away by the support and the honor and just the fact that so many kids are so respectful of veterans who have done so much for the country. I’m just blown away.”
Later, lunch was served and many of the vets joined the students for classroom discussions.
Guests Honored at North Warren Regional High School
Louis Alexander
GSgt. Steward Bach
William C. Blayle Jr.
Russell Burgess
Ryan Burns
Donald Cable
Michael Castles
SSgt. Joel Castro
Michael Cavalla
John Chechelo Sr.
Robert Cooper
Robert Cummings
James DallMaso
SSgt. Brannon Doughty
SSgt. Alexa Eckert
Peter Ferrara Jr.
SSgt. Bianca Figueroa
Kevin Finnegan
Matthew Fredericks
Douglas Gebhart
Scott Geiger
Edward Geueke
Victor Girau Jr.
Robert Halberstadt
Daniel Heitzer
Charles Henshaw
Gary Hickey
Gary A. Hicok
Thomas Holden
Daniel Irons
Jack Kalafut
Melvin Kent
Peter Klem
John Krayniak
John Larkin
Frank Lenkey
Kenneth Liebler
Charles Martina Sr.
Ernest Maso
Thomas V. McBride
Edward Molinski
Christopher C. Mulch
Katie Mulch
Adam Murphy
William Nixon
William Noble
Richard Ohl
Christopher Partika
William Pedrick
Jacqueline Petersen
Robert Petersen
Douglas P. Mitchell
Raymond J. Regenthal
Roger Rehm
Liam A. Saalfeld
Mark Saalfleld
Michael Shultis
James Sikra
Amanda Smith
Nathaniel Smith
Herman Terpstra Sr.
James S. Turner Jr.
Jerry Ugrina
Terry Warnkin
Colonel Teresa Wenner
John Wierbowski
Spencer Willard
Barry Willever
Eugene Woznicki
Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
