Upper St. Clair High School To Honor Veterans

UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA - Upper St. Clair High School will honor its school community veterans on Nov. 9 with a program whose featured speakers will include Master Sgt. Sean McRae retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Todd McIntyre.

McRae, a disabled veteran, retired from the. Marine Corps in 2011 after a 24-year military career in which he earned more than 62 personal awards and decorations, 10 military occupational specialties and served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Despite his disabilities, he competes as a powerlifter and last month finished first in his weight and age class at International Powerlifting League World Bench and Deadlift Championships.

During his service, McIntyre worked in the nuclear propulsion program. An accomplished athlete, he has completed more than 35 marathons and competed in 77 triathlons, including seven ironman distances races. In 2015, he suffered seven brain stem strokes and was hospitalized with a rare neurological condition that left him paralyzed and unable to communicate except with vertical eye movement. Still recovering from that condition, he successfully finished in a sprint distance triathlon in June.

The program also will include performances by the Chanteclairs and the high school marching band. The Marine Corps League, South Hills Detachment 726 Pittsburgh, will present the colors. Finally, current and retired members of Upper St. Clair faculty and staff who are veterans or serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces will be recognized for their service.

• Lee Altman, Bus #159 driver. Served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1966 before being honorably discharged at the rank of senior airman.

• Ed Callahan: Former high school science teacher and curriculum leader served in the United States Navy from 1965 to 1969.

• Tom Dailey: Bus #169. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from April 1963 through January 1969. Dailey served overseas in the Philippines and Vietnam. He extended his deployment in Vietnam for six months so he could save his recently drafted brother from serving a year there.

• Kelley Dykstra: Fort Couch Middle School and Eisenhower Elementary School health room aide. Served as a captain in the Army Nurse Corps and assistant head nurse on a medical-surgical unit stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga. from 2010-2017.

• Bill Jordan: High school custodian served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an aircraft recovery technician from 1980 to 1984.

• Christine McCown: Fort Couch Middle School teacher aide served in the United States Army Reserves from 1988 to 1996 as a specialist in the engineer battalion of Kittanning.

• Maj. Gary McCullough: Boyce Middle School science teacher. McCullough is still serving as a pilot for the Air National Guard and has served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• Fred Peskorski: High school technology education teacher served in the United States Army Reserves from 1992 to 1998.

• Chief Master Sgt. George Salamacha: High school security officer served on active duty for 29 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard from 1971 to 2000.

• Tom Smedley: Former high school math and physics teacher and curriculum leader served on active duty and in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1974 to 2004.

• Kevin Stretavskl: High school nutrition center employee served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1976, honorably discharged as a specialist 4th class. He was a personnel records clerk and served with the 101st Airborne/Air Assault Division, the 198th Personnel Service Company, 2nd Support Command, VII Corps in Nelligen, Germany and with HHC, Presidio of San Francisco FORSCOM. Stretavski received the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

• 1st Lt. Rob Sully: Boyce Middle School social studies teacher is serving in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and was recently deployed with the Air Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

• John Trainor: Fort Couch custodian served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1986. Mr. Trainor was a cryptologist technician interpreter and interrogator. In addition, he was a qualified Navy diver stationed in Rota, Spain and served on five surface ships and five submarines. He was also a Farsi linguist, graduating from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif.

• Cpl. Gregory L. Wagner: High School interim assistant athletic director and assistant girls soccer, basketball and track coach, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 through 1970. He is the father of High School Associate Principal Dr. Timothy Wagner.

• David Walk: Former Upper St. Clair School District supervisor consultant served on active duty in Vietnam in the U.S. Navy from 1965 through 1967. Mr. Walk also served in the Navy Reserves from 1967 through 1971.

• Peter Wray: High school security officer served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Photo via Pixabay.