Knoch students spruce up graves of veterans
SAXONBURG — George Gibson, Herman Lensner and Joseph Mainor might have thanked Knoch High School history club students for what they're doing this week — if they were alive.
Those men are among more than 300 veterans who are buried at the Saxonburg Memorial Church Cemetery.
Leading up to Memorial Day next Monday, about 50 Knoch students this week will spruce up graves of veterans at four cemeteries.
That includes dusting off headstones, replacing sun-faded flags with bright, crisp ones and verifying that military markers on graves are correct.
Brad Pflugh, a Knoch High history teacher, has lead the community service project for the past four years, taking students to various cemeteries during the week before Memorial Day. He also advises the school's history club.
A group of about 15 students and veterans visited Saxonburg Memorial Church Cemetery on Monday.
The experience took on a special meaning for 18-year-old Craig Cirrincione, who has enlisted in the Army Reserves and leaves for basic training in July.
“It's something I've always wanted to do. I played war in the yard” as a child, he said. “I wanted to carry on the family's military traditions.”
Both of Cirrincione's grandfathers served during the Vietnam War.
Classmate Casey Cardone, 18, said Pflugh has a knack for being able to engage his students. History and community service are intertwined.
“He's the kind of guy that can get us out there doing stuff,” Cardone said. “He knows how to get his kids involved and interested.”
The volunteer work they're doing is something that Gay Bennett, chaplain at the American Legion Post 683, appreciates.
“They'll have more respect for the veterans. It's great to have a teacher that does certain things,” he said.
Of the veterans buried at Saxonburg Cemetery, he added: “They're people that served the way we served. Because of them, we're still here.”
Students also will be go to Clinton Presbyterian Cemetery, Summit Presbyterian Cemetery and Middlesex Presbyterian Cemetery this week.
Middlesex Cemetery in particular is in need of upkeep. There are veterans from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War buried there.
Abbi Smithmyer, who graduated from Knoch last year and is majoring in secondary social studies education at Slippery Rock University, has been assisting Pflugh with the project. Cross referenced the Middlesex Cemetery map with newspaper archives and other historical sources to learn more about the veterans. She said it was time-consuming but rewarding.“A lot of the graves, you can't even read them,” she said.Over the years, military markers and flags have been put in different places. For instance, a well-meaning passer-by picking up a marker could put it on the wrong grave.Brittney Srock, 18, said she was never interested in history class until she had Pflugh this year. She said the American flag is a perfect tribute to veterans. It's a beautiful symbol.“It's one of the nicest gestures we can do,” she said of this project.Mackenzie Rodgers, 18, is considering a college minor in history because of her high school experience. And she wants to show people of all ages can be patriotic.“I think it's important to show young people care, too,” she said.
