HUGHESTOWN — As Pittston Area Middle School Principal Patrick Bilbow looked over the cafeteria filled with students, faculty members and military veterans, he declared, “This is one of my favorite school days in the entire year.”
Bilbow was talking about the school’s celebration of Veterans Day where area military veterans sit among middle school students for breakfast. They are joined by Superintendent Kevin Booth and several school board members.
The program consisted of the Pledge of Allegiance recited by students, the National Anthem played by Kaitlin and Abigail Chernouskas and piano music during breakfast provided by Taryn O’Malley, Luca and Gianna DePiertroalo. Santino Zaffuto and Guilliana Latona recited patriotic poems.
Bilbow played a brief video showcasing military veterans prior to breakfast being served.
Among the veterans present was Sam Guarnieri, of Pittston Twp. Guarnieri enlisted in the Navy in 1944 at the age of 17, right after his high school graduation. He served in the Pacific Theatre as a gunner on a merchant ship.
“I was guarding supplies that we were taking to the different islands in the South Pacific,” Guarnieri said.
The 92-year-old Guarnieri went on to thank Bilbow, along with fellow veteran and Assistant Principal Joseph Giambra for holding the ceremony. Fifth and sixth-grade teacher Erin Brogan and principal secretary Colleen McAndrew served as moderators of the program.
“I appreciate them (Pittston Area) in having us here and I appreciate it very much to mingle with the children here who welcome us being here,” Guarnieri said. “They know that, as veterans, to ask us questions on where we were and what we did to protect this country. I’m very proud to be here.”
Navy Sr. Chief Joe Pehanick, Ret. was on hand with his 2-year-old grandson Greyson. Pehanick, who hails from Scranton, was asked to speak by his friend Assistant Principal Giambra. The 63-year-old Pehanick served three combat tours and spoke to the students about the sacrifices his family had to make while he was deployed.
“It’s a great day to represent and honor everyone who served for our country,” seventh-grade student Olivianna Vanesko said. “It gives them a chance to show how much they care for what they’ve done for us to keep us safe and happy lives.”
For seventh-grade student Sadie Gregory, Veterans Day is very personal. “We get to honor everyone and my grandpa was a veteran and he died in an accident in the war,” she said. “He died when my mom was 3 or 4 years old.”
At the conclusion of the program, Bilbow invited the veterans to tour the school.
