Monongahela ceremonies stress sacrifice
Moriah Mack, 9, of McKeesport, and her 7-year-old sister, Jazmyne Mack, wave American flags at the Veterans Day parade in Monongahela Saturday.
Kathie O. Warco / Observer-Reporter The Mon Valley Leathernecks lead off the annual Veterans Day parade Saturday, held this year in Monongahela. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kimberly A. Stetz Siniscalchi, a native of Charleroi, served as grand marshal and speaker at the Veterans Day luncheon hosted by VFW Post 1409.
MONONGAHELA – In introducing the keynote speaker at Saturday’s Veterans Day luncheon at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1409 in Monongahela, retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeffrey Fawcett quipped it is not every day he gets to introduce a girl from Charleroi.
But in introducing Air Force Maj. Gen. Kimberly A. Stetz Siniscalchi as the keynote speaker and listing her accomplishments as she rose to the rank of two-star general, Fawcett said she is typical of the people of the Mon Valley.
“You learn duty and honor to your country and sacrifice here in the Mon Valley,” Fawcett said.
“This community embraces its veterans,” said Siniscalchi, a Charleroi Area High School graduate who is now the assistant Air Force surgeon general, Medical Force Development. “That’s just how it is in the Mon Valley.
“It doesn’t matter where you are from, this is a community of hardworking people dedicated to America and who appreciate their country. You appreciate your freedom and know that freedom does not always come free.”
Siniscalchi said she has served on foreign soil and knows what is like to be away from family and friends.
“I also cared for those wounded in the chaos of war,” she said. “I watched as medical teams worked so hard to save a life. And I stood by the litter as a soldier sang ‘Amazing Grace’ as another slipped away.”
Siniscalchi said the trauma hospital at Balad, Iraq, was recently closed as part of the transition. She described the “Heroes Highway,” a tent-lined entry to the hospital. On top of the lines of tents was an American flag.
“After the helicopters landed and they were carried through Hero’s Highway, they could look up and see the American flag as they were carried into the hospital,” Siniscalchi said. “And they knew if they made it that far, they had a 99 percent chance of surviving.”
There were 19,000 wounded warriors treated at the hospital.”When they removed the flags, the stars were printed on top of the roof of the tent,” she said.
She encouraged veterans to tell their stories to others, particularly to those now serving.
“Each generation has its own story,” said the major general. “It gives hope to these young men and women now serving.”
Earlier Saturday, the Monongahela Bridge was renamed for retired U.S. Army Gen. Carl E. Vuono during a ceremony.
Vuono said the bridge now honors all past and current members of the military.
“I accept this as their representative,” he said after his grandchildren helped to unveil a sign bearing his name on the Monongahela side of the bridge along Route 136 crossing the Monongahela River.
“It’s the most humbling experience of my life,” he added.
In Canonsburg Saturday, two new markers were added during a ceremony at the war memorial outside the borough building. The new markers memorialize those who fought in the Civil War and in the War on Terror.
Staff writer Scott Beveridge contributed to this report.