John Cyprian, master of ceremonies, congratulates Gary Neely, 2024 Veteran of the Year, during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Leslie Osche, Chairwoman of the Board of Commissioners for the County of Butler, says the Pledge of Allegiance during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
LeRoy Bunyan, left, and Allen McClymonds take part in a recognition ceremony of past Veteran of the Year recipients during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Gary Neely is honored by Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Dennis Bogan, right, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, takes a moment to talk with Gary Neely, the 2024 Veteran of the Year, during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Al Worsley honors prisoners of war and comrades who are missing in action at a ceremony during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
National Little Miss Military Star Nyomin Dimit hands a thank-you card to attendees of the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Dennis Bogan, right, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, gets out of his wheelchair to embrace and congratulate Gary Neely, the 2024 Veteran of the Year, during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Gary Neely tells a story of a fellow officer who didn’t wear shoes during his acceptance speech after being named 2024 Veteran of the Year at the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Richard Ash is greeted by American Legion Riders Chapters 778 and 117 at the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
A memorial bench created in memory of the late Al McGrath, located outside Emily Brittain Elementary School, was officially dedicated on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
A memorial bench created in memory of the late Al McGrath, located outside Emily Brittain Elementary School, was officially dedicated on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
The plaque stands next to a bench at Emily Brittain Elementary School that memorializes the late Al McGrath on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche, left, unveils the plaque next to the bench memorializing the late Al McGrath at Emily Brittain Elementary School on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Local artist Tom Panei, with son Luca, speaks about the memorial bench for the late Al McGrath, which he created for Emily Brittain Elementary School, at a dedication ceremony Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
A memorial bench created in memory of the late Al McGrath, located outside Emily Brittain Elementary School, was officially dedicated Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Joshua Hundertmark, principal of Emily Brittain Elementary School, speaks about the memorial bench for the late Al McGrath, which was officially dedicated Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
A memorial bench created in memory of the late Al McGrath, located outside Emily Brittain Elementary School, was officially dedicated Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
From left, Al McGrath’s nephew, Doug McClaine, wife Mary McGrath and nephew Nick McClaine attended the dedication ceremony for the bench memorializing the late Al McGrath at Emily Brittain Elementary School on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Joshua Hundertmark, principal of Emily Brittain Elementary School, speaks about the memorial bench for the late Al McGrath, which was officially dedicated on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Debbie Leuchter Stueber presents her parents' story of surviving the Holocaust at the Evans City Public Library on Thursday night, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Debbie Leuchter Stueber presents her parents' story of surviving the Holocaust at the Evans City Public Library on Thursday night, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Debbie Leuchter Stueber presents her parents' story of surviving the Holocaust at the Evans City Public Library on Thursday night, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
John Cyprian, master of ceremonies, congratulates Gary Neely, 2024 Veteran of the Year, during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Leslie Osche, Chairwoman of the Board of Commissioners for the County of Butler, says the Pledge of Allegiance during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
LeRoy Bunyan, left, and Allen McClymonds take part in a recognition ceremony of past Veteran of the Year recipients during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Gary Neely is honored by Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Dennis Bogan, right, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, takes a moment to talk with Gary Neely, the 2024 Veteran of the Year, during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Al Worsley honors prisoners of war and comrades who are missing in action at a ceremony during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
National Little Miss Military Star Nyomin Dimit hands a thank-you card to attendees of the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Dennis Bogan, right, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, gets out of his wheelchair to embrace and congratulate Gary Neely, the 2024 Veteran of the Year, during the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Gary Neely tells a story of a fellow officer who didn’t wear shoes during his acceptance speech after being named 2024 Veteran of the Year at the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
Richard Ash is greeted by American Legion Riders Chapters 778 and 117 at the Butler County Veteran of the Year Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Rob McGraw
A memorial bench created in memory of the late Al McGrath, located outside Emily Brittain Elementary School, was officially dedicated on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
A memorial bench created in memory of the late Al McGrath, located outside Emily Brittain Elementary School, was officially dedicated on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
The plaque stands next to a bench at Emily Brittain Elementary School that memorializes the late Al McGrath on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche, left, unveils the plaque next to the bench memorializing the late Al McGrath at Emily Brittain Elementary School on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Local artist Tom Panei, with son Luca, speaks about the memorial bench for the late Al McGrath, which he created for Emily Brittain Elementary School, at a dedication ceremony Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
A memorial bench created in memory of the late Al McGrath, located outside Emily Brittain Elementary School, was officially dedicated Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Joshua Hundertmark, principal of Emily Brittain Elementary School, speaks about the memorial bench for the late Al McGrath, which was officially dedicated Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
A memorial bench created in memory of the late Al McGrath, located outside Emily Brittain Elementary School, was officially dedicated Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
From left, Al McGrath’s nephew, Doug McClaine, wife Mary McGrath and nephew Nick McClaine attended the dedication ceremony for the bench memorializing the late Al McGrath at Emily Brittain Elementary School on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Joshua Hundertmark, principal of Emily Brittain Elementary School, speaks about the memorial bench for the late Al McGrath, which was officially dedicated on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Debbie Leuchter Stueber presents her parents' story of surviving the Holocaust at the Evans City Public Library on Thursday night, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Debbie Leuchter Stueber presents her parents' story of surviving the Holocaust at the Evans City Public Library on Thursday night, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
Debbie Leuchter Stueber presents her parents' story of surviving the Holocaust at the Evans City Public Library on Thursday night, Nov. 7, 2024. William Pitts/Butler Eagle
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