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Community news from around the area

Annual Memorial Brick Run scheduled for Saturday; Tri-State Young Marines sponsor bus for veterans

WINTERSVILLE — The American Legion Riders of Stevens-Christian Memorial Post 557 in Wintersville will hold their seventh-annual Memorial Brick Run on Saturday, and a special part of that will be a presence by representatives of the Tri-State Young Marines who have sponsored an honor bus to help transport veterans to the event.

The destination is the Ohio Veterans Memorial Park in Clinton, Ohio, where the Legion Riders escort and place memorial bricks there in honor of deceased veterans. The pavers are placed there as part of the Memorial Walkway during a special ceremony.

“The Tri-State Young Marines raised enough funds to charter a bus in order to escort veterans to Ohio Veterans’ Memorial Park,” explained Wendy Barr, a volunteer adult leader with the Weirton-based Tri-State Young Marines. The bus will have 17 veterans on board along with 17 Young Marines and five staff, according to Barr, who said the Marines participated for the first time last year.

“Last year, they didn’t have this in May, they had it in August because of the pandemic,” Barr said, noting the Legion invited the Young Marines to come and be part of the color guard.

Because of pandemic precautions, parents drove their youth in the Young Marines to the park, she said.

“The Young Marines had a fabulous time but it was hard to keep everybody together in the cars, so we thought well, when they ask us again for this year, I thought, why don’t we have an honor bus,” Barr said in explaining how the idea originated. “I looked into how much a charter bus would be and thought we can do this.”

Each Young Marine was encouraged to get sponsorships to accommodate three veterans to have a seat on the bus, according to Barr, who added that in addition to veterans and Young Marines traveling on the bus, a few seats also were available for family members of veterans for whom a memorial brick had been purchased.

“We are so very excited about this event,” Barr said, describing the ceremony itself as simple but very moving.

“The Young Marines escorted the bricks to the proper place and two of our Young Marines were asked to be part of the American Legion Honor Guard, and we also had a color guard,” she said. “That park is amazing, and it is beautiful. The Young Marines had a wonderful time.”

The Legion welcomes other riders to be a part of Saturday’s event. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Wintersville post at 1212 Two Ridge Road, Wintersville. Bikes will depart at 10 a.m. and return by 5 p.m. All vehicles are welcome.

There is a ride donation of $25 per person that includes dinner and a shirt afterward.

Dinner, a Chinese auction, a 50-50 drawing and music will follow the ride at the Wintersville FOP Lodge No. 97 at 341 Kragel Road, Richmond. The dinner donation for those not riding to the park will be $10 per person. Shirts are $20.

All proceeds will benefit brick purchases and local veterans charities.

According to the website for the Ohio Veterans’ Memorial Park, it is constructed of many monuments honoring veterans with the flag-ship of the park being the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall. The west side of the 125-foot-long polished black granite wall contains the names of the 3,095 Ohioans who gave their lives in service to the nation during the Vietnam War. It is the longest free-standing monument in the nation. The west side of the wall is engraved with all of the conflicts that Ohio has been involved with since the War of 1812.

Brilliant Lions Club learns about time capsule project

BRILLIANT — Frank Haas, a member of the Wellsburg Kiwanis Club involved in a time capsule project revolving around the construction of the new Ohio River bridge connecting Wellsburg to Brilliant, was the guest speaker at the club’s May 6 meeting.

Hass and his father, Bob Hass, who also attended, are co-chairs of the time capsule project that invited residents and groups from both sides of the Ohio River to contribute items for it. It will be opened in 50 years.

“We received many early contributions and it would be nice for the Jefferson County community to do so as well,” Frank Haas commented. “My dad made more than 80 contacts about supplying the time capsule, and we hope future generations will appreciate it.”

Butch Ford, Lions club president, said the club had been collecting items for it.

Dave Porter gave the invocation and led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Kevan Huggins and his wife, Sheryl, were in charge of the dinner arrangements.

John Goosman will be working on another blood drive to be held July 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lions meeting room.

It was noted that the seventh-grade class at Buckeye North Elementary School would be attending the All Day Camp that has been a tradition for sixth-graders. It was not held in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Brooke High School Class of 1971 plans July 2 reunion

WEIRTON — Plans have been finalized for the Brooke High School Class of 1971’s 50-year reunion.

The dinner-dance will be held July 2 in Undo’s at the Holiday Inn, 350 Three Springs Drive, Weirton.

The cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar followed by a class group picture and buffet dinner. Total cost of the reunion is $40 for a single attendee and $68 per couple, which and includes one group picture.

Reservations must be made by June 15. Checks payable to Brooke High Class of 1971 and appropriate payment should be mailed to Mary Free, 632 Gilbert Ave., Follansbee, WV 26037. Include name, address, and e-mail address with payment.

Several classmates have not yet been located.

Ten classmates have not been located yet.

Jefferson County Veterans Association hosting program

SMITHFIELD — The Jefferson County Veterans Association will continue its annual Memorial Day program at Friendship Park, Smithfield, with the program beginning at 3 p.m. on May 31 at the JCVA Memorial Wall.

The guest speaker will be David Charvat, a native of Dillonvale who, after high school, who attended the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned in 1971.

After being awarded his naval aviation wings he flew four years from aircraft carriers and land-based operations. Due to budget reductions, he changed his career field, later changing his career field and using his engineering degree. He worked on ships and trained in underwater maintenance salvage work as a Navy diver.

Charvat retired after 25 years’ service and then obtained a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin. He worked for several public utilities specializing in energy-saving programs. He taught power plant operations for 10 years at Youngstown State University.

His various passions include sailing, participating in triathlons, volunteering with environmental groups, churches and food banks. He also enjoys biking, gardening and performing magic. He is a professional magician performing at a variety of events.

He and his wife, Sarah, reside in Wheeling and have two children and a grandson.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held in the 4-H building. There will be light refreshments following the program.

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