Treats for veterans | News, sports, jobs

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The St. Clairsville Middle School Student Council will honor Ohio Valley veterans on Monday.

On the occasion of Veterans Day, the municipality is organizing a breakfast at the school at 8:00 am. Student council advisor Becca Schwertfeger said she encourages high school students to bring a veteran to breakfast.

“Students are asked to bring a veteran. It could be a family member, a family friend or a neighbor. Just bring them in.” Schwertfeger said.

Following breakfast, a brief Veterans Day gathering will take place at 9 a.m. to honor the veterans in attendance.

“Some students will speak. We bring in former veterans and current active duty service members, and we celebrate them and appreciate their sacrifices,” she said.

One of the students who will speak at the event is St. Clairsville High School senior Jesse Baker. Baker is not part of any club or group participating in the meeting, but said she felt the need to be involved because she believes veterans deserve the highest and greatest respect.

“They have shown unparalleled courage and dedication, often risking their lives for the greater good.” she said. “Recognizing and appreciating their service is critical, not only through ceremonies and commemorations, but also by providing them with the support and resources they need as they return to civilian life.”

She added that she believes once a veteran returns to civilian life, they should have the right to access health care, education, employment and mental health care.

“Honoring veterans means recognizing their sacrifices and ensuring they receive the respect and care they rightly deserve.” said Baker.

The St. Clairsville Police Department will partner with the student council to distribute goodie bags to veterans.

Police Officer Greg Clark said if a veteran cannot attend the event, they can contact the mayor’s office at 740-695-1324 to arrange for an officer to drop off a goodie bag to them. Schwertfeger is Clark’s daughter, so the collaboration between the school and police went smoothly. Clark said he believes the program has grown every year since Schwertfeger took over responsibility for handling the event.

Schwertfeger’s grandfather Gary Clark is a Vietnam veteran – a fact that was the driving force behind her desire to distribute gift bags. She started handing out goodie bags to the veterans during the breakfast event in 2018. The bags contain treats such as cookies, candies, water bottles and trinkets donated by students and community members.

In addition to the breakfast, assembly and goodie bags, Schwertfeger is also doing a Wall of Honor.

“I started making the wall in 2018, and it started with maybe 100 photos and it’s grown to over 650 photos,” Schwertfeger said. “I post on Facebook and ask if anyone knows a veteran to send me a photo. All I need is the name and branch of the service, and I hang it on the wall.”

She added that the wall is not just limited to residents of the Ohio Valley.

“We have veterans from all over the country, from California, Florida, and people currently stationed overseas, so it’s a mix and a really cool experience,” Schwertfeger said.

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