Red, White & Brilliant
October 5, 2022
We couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant autumn evening when we welcomed six members of Ohio Valley Marine Corps League Detachment No. 882 to our hilltop to “retire the colors,” lowering our tattered American flag and raising a new, larger flag on the pole near our main entrance.
Our Residents and guests gathered outside after dinner for a patriotic ceremony that included the playing of Taps by a Marine bugler and the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner by Northgate High School senior Peyton Celesti. Many sang along and some even choked back tears.
After the old flag was lowered, carefully folded and retired, the new flag — graciously purchased for us by our caterer and generous friend John Marshall — was presented to the Marines by Father Robert Staszewski, one of our Residents who is a veteran of both the U.S. Navy and Marines. The detachment took special care to greet him and Charles Krzywicki of Bellevue, a retired Marine who was the guest of another Resident.
With prayers written and led by Sister Anece Salay, we closed the ceremony by honoring the veterans — both living and deceased — who are dear to our Residents and employees. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed cupcakes and took home a commemorative prayer card listing each of the veterans whose names were read in the ceremony.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Marines and to Peyton for creating a wonderful evening for our personal care community. Thanks also are in order for our food service team for preparing the delicious cupcakes. Additional prayer cards are available in our main foyer, and a listing of the veterans we honored is included here on this webpage.
Marine Corps veterans respectfully fold our faded, tattered flag, which was raised by the same troop in 2020. It will be properly destroyed by a local American Legion post.
Before presenting our new flag, Father Robert Staszewski watches as the old flag is lowered during the playing of Taps.
Northgate senior Peyton Celesti sings our National Anthem after the new flag is in place.
Marines salute as the new flag makes its way up the pole.
Our new flag — measuring a massive 25 feet long — is carefully unfurled by the Marines before being hoisted onto our flagpole.
Residents, employees and guests sing along to The Star-Spangled Banner.
Honoring Our Veterans
The names of the following veterans — both living and deceased — were submitted by our Residents and employees for inclusion in our 2022 flag ceremony.
†Marilyn Allen (U.S. Army)
†Tom Allen (U.S. Army)
†Matthew Armany Sr. (U.S. Army, World War II)
Matthew Armany Jr. (U.S. Navy)
†Louie Bako (U.S. Army Paratrooper)
†Paul Black (U.S. Navy)
†Philip Charles Carroll (U.S. Navy)
†Gary Chegas (U.S. Army Medic, Korean Conflict)
†Carl W. Costa (U.S. Navy)
Kenneth Dickerson (U.S. Army, Afghanistan)
†Joseph DiFalco (U.S. Army, Korean Conflict)
Anthony Giba (U.S. Air Force)
†Paul Giba (U.S. Army)
†Lou Golitko (U.S. Army Paratrooper, World War II)
†Charles D. Gordon (U.S. Army)
†Buddy Harenchar (U.S. Army)
†Glenn J. Heshizer (U.S. Navy)
†Jacko Family (U.S. Air Force, Navy, Merchant Marines)
†John Kasper (U.S. Army)
Paul Kiefer (U.S. Air Force)
†Joseph Knupsky Sr. (U.S. Army, Korean Conflict)
Charles Krzywicki (U.S. Marines)
Kuzma Family (U.S. Army, Air Force, Marines & Navy)
Bradley Paul Leininger (U.S. Army Ranger)
Daniel John Leininger (U.S. Army Green Beret)
†William Leininger (U.S. Army)
†Frank T. Lipchak (U.S. Army, World War II)
†Ernest Natale (U.S. Marines, World War II)
†Richard Natale (U.S. Army, World War II)
†William Natale (U.S. Army Med Corps, World War II)
†Arthur Osborn (U.S. Coast Guard, World War II)
†Andrew Pavlick (U.S. Army Med Corps)
†Stephen Pavlik (U.S. Army)
†Albert Plutko (U.S. Air Force)
†Edward Plutko (U.S. Navy)
†George Plutko (U.S. Army)
Marty Plutko (U.S. Air Force)
†Joseph S. Salay (U.S. Army & U.S. Air Force Reserve)
†Robert H. Schafers (U.S. Navy, World War II)
William Schafers (U.S. Navy)
†John F. Simkovic (U.S. Army, World War II)
Father Robert Staszewski (U.S. Navy & Marines)
†Edward Stemnock (U.S. Air Force)
†Paul Terjak (U.S. Army Air Corps, World War II)
†Rudolph Terjak (U.S. Navy, World War II)
†James West (U.S. Army Air Corps)