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Hayden will offer important message

There are many adjectives that come to mind when residents from all points of the Tri-State Area discuss the Trinity Health System Presents the Herald-Star Speaker Series.

Some find the presentations to be thought-provoking. Others find them to be an enjoyable evening. Still others say they have been entertaining. And just about everyone has found them to be educational.

That’s because we have worked hard to bring top-quality speakers to town since the series started on Nov. 14, 2012, when former Secret Service agent Clint Hill and his co-author, Lisa McCubbin, delivered the first presentation.

Michael Hayden will deliver the next presentation in the series at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Berkman Theater at Lanman Hall at Catholic Central High School. Hayden, a retired four-star Air Force general, is the former head of the National Security and Central Intelligence agencies. He will discuss the changes in the field of intelligence he has observed during his 40-year-plus career, especially the changes that have occurred since Sept. 11, 2001. He’ll also address current events and how they affect us.

Hayden will be adding his name to a list that began with Hill and McCubbin. Since then, the series has delivered men and women who have spoken on a wide range of topics. Antonio and Jonna Mendez, for instance, detailed their careers as masters of disguise with the CIA, work that led to the rescue of hostages from Iran that was dramatized in the film “Argo.” Richard Phillips offered details of his harrowing capture at sea by Somali pirates and rescue by Navy SEALS, a story that was dramatized in the film “Captain Phillips.” Retired Air Force Col. Mark Tillman told what it was like to be in command of Air Force One on Sept. 11, 2001, when he was charged with protecting President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Rebekah Gregory, meanwhile, described what it was like to be severely injured in the Boston Marathon bombings and detailed the strength and resilience needed to battle back, and Mark “Oz” Geist talked about fighting for survival during the attacks on Benghazi. Last fall, Jeanine Pirro, the legal expert and political commentator, brought her no-holds-barred view of the world to town.

Joining Trinity, the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times as event sponsors are Franciscan University of Steubenville, Cattrell Cos. Inc., Eastern Gateway Community College, EZtoUse.com, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and WTRF-TV. Special support is being provided by Piergallini Catering, Newbrough Photo, the Inn at Franciscan Square, Hertz-Thrifty Car Rental and Catholic Central.

Tickets remain available at all three levels — reserved, preferred and VIP.

Reserved seat tickets cost $20 if purchased in advance and will be $25 at the door. Call (740) 283-4711 for details.

We welcome Hayden to town and thank everyone involved for ensuring that our local speaker series can continue. Presentations like this help to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community.

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