MOOSIC — Members of the Pittston Area High School Class of 1969 turned back the hands of time when they got together on Aug. 24 to mark the 50th anniversary of their high school graduation.
The organizing committee wanted to have a weekend to remember for as many classmates as possible. They secured the Fellow Order of Police Lodge in Moosic, booked The Sperazza Band that played 60s music for hours, had the affair catered and even brought in an ice cream truck.
A specially designed commemorative medal featured the Pittston Area School District seal, the date of the 50th anniversary reunion on the front with the American flag. Gifts were awarded to each person and raffle baskets and items were given away.
The day began at noon and concluded at 10 p.m. with a pizza party, a champagne toast, a campfire and S’mores.
As a special treat, the committee invited nine former high school teachers to the event.
Classmate and committeewoman Gail Wywiorski Malloy was happy to see former teachers at the reunion.
“You should see the teachers that were here today,” Malloy said. “Each teacher got a gift and their spouse got a carnation bouquet.”
“We made it our goal, our mission statement, to have the largest gathering of graduates since graduation day,” committee member Carmen Falcone said. “We achieved that goal and we have 101 out of 413 total classmates.”
By the committee’s account, 413 graduated, 53 are deceased and, for medical reasons, 35 could not attend the reunion.
“We actually started celebrating on Wednesday night for out-of-town people,” Falcone said. “On Thursday, we had a review meeting and Friday, we all went out for pizza. Tomorrow morning, we will have a clean-up and, after that, we will have breakfast. How could you go wrong for only $50 per person?”
Falcone said the committee of 25 members or more got together frequently over the last 18 months to plan the affair.
“We had a girl from Florida that never missed a committee meeting,” Falcone quipped. “She never missed a meeting because we FaceTimed with her. We all worked really well together. That was the enthusiasm that we all had for this reunion.”
During an emotional moment at the onset of the reunion, deceased classmates’ names were read aloud with a corresponding chime of a bell while bagpiper Jim Sweeney played in the background.
Classmate and service veteran Dan Mulhern paid tribute to veteran classmates present and deceased.
Nancy Casey Decker, of Moosic, followed all committee meetings through Facebook. She previously attended the 40th and 45th reunions.
“I love it! This one, of course, is the best because there are the most people here,” Decker said. “I love to see everybody again and I know we’ve changed a lot, but it’s still a good time. I saw people today that I have not seen in 50 years since we graduated. The hair is gone or gray but you can pick out faces.”
Decker was thankful she was able to make the 50th anniversary reunion since many of her classmates are deceased.
“If they plan a 55th and if I’m still around, I’ll be there,” she said.
