Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” and other patriotic songs played as veterans like Herb Anderson of Indiana County entered the school looking for their students. In Anderson’s case, he searched for his grandson, Colt Anderson, who’s a fifth grader at the school.

Anderson served in the Marine Corps. from 1984-92 and during that time, he was stationed all over the world — Norway, Denmark, Germany, England, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

For Ryan Bednarski of Cresson, being greeted by his daughter, Raelyn, was the greatest feeling in the world. Bednarski served in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 2004-12, doing route clearance in Taji, Iraq.

“It’s a really special thing that the school has,” Bednarski said of the ceremony. “It’s really nice that they do this.”

Penn Cambria fifth grader Ava Allen holds her phone while on a FaceTime call with her brother, Cory Allen, who is overseas in Italy serving in the Army. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

After the veterans and students made their way into the cafeteria, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and they were served breakfast — french toast, sausage, scrambled eggs, apples and milk.

Fourth grader Noah Galebach said it was the best breakfast he’s ever had at the school — mainly because he got to spend time with his grandfather, Dan Fogle, who served in Vietnam.

“I’m happy that he’s here,” Galebach said.

But not every student’s family member was physically present at the ceremony.

For fifth grader Ava Allen, what made Friday’s ceremony special was that she got to Facetime with her brother, Cory Allen, who’s currently stationed in Italy, serving in the Army.

Penn Cambria Middle School Principal Justin Wheeler (standing) speaks with Army veteran Scott Eberhart (right) and his grandson, Maddox Eberhart as Vietnam veteran Dan Fogle (left) looks on. Fogle attended the school’s Veterans Day ceremony to have breakfast with his grandson, fourth grader Noah Galebach. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

“I think it’s really awesome to be involved in something like this, especially being so far away. It means a lot being able to see other veterans and stuff like that,” Allen said on his sister’s phone.

With a smile on her face, Ava Allen said she enjoyed the breakfast, but being able to speak with her brother was what truly made the day special.

“My brother can’t come home this year, but he can come home next year,” she said.

For many veterans, talking about their military experience can be difficult. But they were encouraged to do just that by Justin Wheeler, the school’s principal, who asked the students to look around the cafeteria and take note of how many community members have served the country.

According to Wheeler, there are about 300 students enrolled at Penn Cambria Middle School, meaning about one-third of the student population has a veteran in their family.

Army veteran Fred Weakland of Chest Springs hugs his granddaughter, Melee Weakland, 11, at Penn Cambria Middle School’s Veterans Day celebration Friday. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

Veterans Day “means a little more when you know someone” who’s served, Wheeler said, adding his father served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, his brother served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and his niece joined the Navy this year.

Veterans Day is “about remembering the sacrifice, the commitment and the courage it took to serve,” Wheeler told the students.

Army veteran Fred Weakland of Chest Springs served in Korea in 1972-73.

“It was very different. It’s a hard thing to talk about with everything you go through,” Weakland said with tears in his eyes.

“The experience of not knowing from day to day whether you’re coming home (alive) is pretty tough,” he said.

Gallitzin veteran Joe Gailey sits with his grandsons, 10-year-old Jack Wysong (left) and Blake Gailey, 11. Gailey served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1971-77. He was deployed to Germany and had tears in his eyes while reflecting on his military service. While attending Penn Cambria’s Veterans Day ceremony Friday, Gailey said he was reminded that freedom isn’t free. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

Weakland hugged his granddaughter, Melee, tight while waiting to stand in line for breakfast.

They see each other nearly every day, Weakland said, noting he enjoys watching his grandchildren play in the swimming pool at his house.

“For them (Penn Cambria) to put a program together like this, it means a lot for us,” Weakland said. “You can see all of the work that they do. I’m sure all of the veterans feel like I do; it’s very appreciated.”

Cresson resident Scott Eberhart, who served in the Army from 1980 to 2006, said the students’ reception was “wonderful.”

“Seeing all the kids and the faculty recognizing the veterans, it’s a beautiful thing,” Eberhart said while eating with his grandson, Maddox. “We love to interact with the young people and tell them about the military because it’s a path they may want to take some day.”

Marine Corps veteran Herb Anderson of Indiana County walks past Penn Cambria Middle School students while walking toward the school’s cafeteria to have breakfast with his grandson, fifth grader Colt Anderson, 11. The students waved American flags and thanked veterans for their military service as about 90 veterans entered the school to the sound of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” Mirror photo by Matt Churella

Joe Gailey of Gallitzin served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1971-77. He said walking through the school and seeing all of the students was a “beautiful” experience. It reminded him that freedom isn’t free.

“I thank God every day for the freedom that we have,” Gailey said. “When I see my grandsons getting on the school bus, that’s freedom to me.”

Gailey enjoyed breakfast with his grandsons — Blake Gailey, 11, and Jack Wysong, 10.

“I’m so thankful for him to come and for serving us in the Army,” Wysong said while eating breakfast with his grandfather.

Many other veterans and their families said the program was special and meant a lot to them, including South Fork resident Jeff Spaid, who served 24 years in the Army, and Caleb Lutz, who’s currently serving in the Army National Guard but was able to attend the school’s ceremony for his younger brother, Luke Vancaster, 11.

“It feels really good to get out of math class for this,” Vancaster said while talking with Lutz about football.

Lutz said they love to watch football together and play “Madden NFL” on their Xbox.

“It’s nice to see that a lot of the community still cares, especially in today’s day and age,” Lutz said.

Spaid said the ceremony meant a lot to him, but it meant even more to his grandson, Caden Smith.

Wheeler confirmed the students’ excitement, noting many of them were eager to celebrate Veterans Day with their families.

“We were able to line the halls and have American flags and American music playing in the background. In this day and age, I think having some pride in the country is important and our kids showed it this morning,” Wheeler said. “I’m glad that the veterans enjoyed it.”

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-947-7520.