SV will salute veterans at game
JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley School District is once again organizing a special Veteran Recognition Day set for the first Raider football home game Sept. 8.
“We invite active and retired military personnel from the Seneca Valley communities to join us and typically have about 50 who come out that night,” said Linda Andreassi, the school district's communications director.
“This is our 18th year hosting this event, and it's one we very much look forward to having every year. It is tradition to host it during the first home game of the season,” she said.
Zelienople resident Gary English, a Navy veteran, said he's attended many of these nights with his son-in-law, Eric Wharton, an Air Force veteran from Zelienople.
“Linda Andreassi does a great job of organizing everything and makes veterans recognition night a great experience for vets. It seems to become a little larger every year,” English said.
English added, “Veterans appreciation night is not limited to veterans with ties to the Seneca Valley School District.
“I know this because I had to sit next to a veteran from North Allegheny when the appreciation night was on the night we lost to North Allegheny,” he said.
“Our military guests start off in the Seneca Valley Raider football locker room adhering American flag stickers to the players' helmets,” Andreassi said.“They then participate in a ceremony where they march down the track and are recognized in front of the home stands for their service and sacrifice,” she added.The veterans also receive free admission and special seating and parking accommodations for the game.“Our fans — and our away visitors — always impress me with their support by offering several standing ovations. Many of them even visit our special guests in the reserved seating section to thank them personally,” Andreassi said.“There are many emotions at play that night, and I always see a few tears in the eyes of our military guests. Having the crowd support them is more meaningful than I think we could ever understand. Seneca Valley is pleased to continue this tradition,” she said.English said, “I have been attending these for a number of years. One meeting really stands out in my memory from several years ago.“I talked to an older vet who was wearing a Screaming Eagle ball cap, but it didn't register at the time. When he turned, the back of the cap said Bastogne!”Bastogne was the Belgian village defended by the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) against the Germans during the December 1944 Battle of the Bulge.
