MEETING THE GENERAL — Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Platt, right, currently serving in Iraq with Naval Squadron VP-9, recently had the opportunity to meet Gen. David Petraeus, Commander General of Multi-National Forces in Iraq. Platt, a 1992 graduate of Butler High School and a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is stationed in Kaneohe, Hawaii, with VP-9. His parents are Thomas and Janet Platt of Butler.

Michael Gaither recently graduated from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tenn., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air National Guard.Gaither, a pilot trainee, is a member of the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard at the Pittsburgh International Airport.He has served in the military for nine years.He is the son of Fred and Karen A. Schott of Zelienople.His wife, Anna, is the daughter of Roc and Kathy Ronco of New Brighton.The lieutenant received a bachelor's degree in 2004 from Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, N.J.———Marine Corps P.F.C.

Joshua Medina, son of Elizabeth Median and Felix Medina, both of Butler, recently completed basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., and was promoted to his present rank.Median is a 2007 graduate of Butler High School.