PBHS Class Of 1970 Recognizes Its Veterans

On Veterans Day, November 11, our nation pays tribute to all military veterans for their sacrifices. As its 55-year reunion approaches, the PBHS Class of 1970 recognizes a total of 21 classmates who served in the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines during the Vietnam Era in different forms.

The class purchased two personalized bricks for the Belington VFW Post 410 Flagpole Memorial at the PBHS sports complex. The first brick honors Army Sgt. John A. Charnoplosky who was killed in action in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam, on November 15, 1971. The second brick honors the other classmates who also served.

Total of 12 living veterans are celebrated: Bobbe Getschman and Brooks Payne, Air Force; Stan Daugherty, Billy R. Davis, Phillip Everson, Walter Freeman, Larry Michael Humphreys, Roland Jones, Gregory Quagliotti, Ben Stout, and Gary Wentz, Army; and Steven Honce, Navy.

Nine deceased veterans are remembered: Perry Weaver, Jr., Air Force; John Charnoplosky, Larry Halstead, Andy Kurucz, Jr., Robert Louk, Jimmie Mayle, and Ray Snider, Army; Eddie Shingleton, Navy; and Ronald Farley, Marines.

Living veterans may be nominated by a friend or family member to receive a Quilt of Valor (QOV), a Civilian Award for the individual’s service and sacrifice to defend our county’s freedoms. Since 2022, Rita White Gum, classmate and QOV volunteer seamstress, has awarded a handmade quilt as a tangible expression of gratitude from a grateful nation to six veterans and four spouses of classmates who are veterans.

As of April 30, 2024, more than 380,000 QOVs have been awarded and registered in the U.S. and in our military hospitals in Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar. Visit the Quilts of Valor Foundation for more information on the nomination process and documentation of service at https://dev.qovf.org/