Harding Middle School students meet and honor veterans
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STEUBENVILLE -- Students at Harding Middle School had the chance Wednesday to recognize veterans and learn more about their experiences.
More than 150 veterans were honored guests during the school’s 10th-annual Veterans Day breakfast. It was a chance for the veterans and the students who invited them to share different perspectives.
“It’s important because it lets the students better understand what people have been through,” said Danielle Kalinowski, a teacher at Harding and adviser of the school’s Leo Club. “It’s important for the students to hear these stories from the veterans themselves.”
Students had the chance to talk with the veterans as they ate breakfast, which was prepared by the school’s kitchen staff, and worked from a sheet that included 19 questions.
Among those were why did a person join the service; if they enlisted, why they picked their branch; what medals or citations did they receive; what did they do when they were on leave; if they made close friendships while in the service and have those relationships continued; and how service affected their lives.
“If the students invited a veteran, they had the opportunity to greet them, sit with them and ask those interview questions,” explained Bryan Mills, the school’s principal. “It was a chance to get to know them better and ask the questions that they would never think to ask.”
Members of the Steubenville Lions Club sponsored the event, with the help of the more than 100 members of the Leo Club. Sponsored by Lions Clubs, Leo Clubs provide a way for students to focus on community service, leadership development and personal growth.
Veterans in attendance represented many eras and included those who had served during World War II, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Among the veterans taking part was John Panza. Now 105, he served with the Army during World War II.
“This is a great thing -- it’s great,” Panza said of the student-led presentation.
He resides in Weirton, having moved from Toronto. After the end of the war, he went to work for the Weirton Steel Corp.
Panza explained that he enjoys coming to the event every year, and has attended nearly every one, missing the 2025 breakfast because of a family obligation.
This Veterans Day turned into a busy one for Panza, who also was recognized during Wednesday evening’s Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce dinner at the St. Francis Center in Follansbee.
According to Kalinowski, the school’s gym had been set up with 325 seats. Very few of them were empty.
“This was our biggest one,” she explained. “When this started, we had around 90 veterans, and now we’re up to 150, so it’s getting bigger and bigger.
Helping with the presentation were Stephanie Zimmer and Emily Barletta.
The Harding jazz choir, under the direction of Glory Dami, sang the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and Kasey Marino was the florist. Each of the veterans received a rose to wear as they entered the gym.