Photo Provided Kayla Theaker, Martins Ferry Middle School Student Council president, is joined from left by Laken Reeb, secretary; Gregg Bahen, guest speaker; Chuckie Patella, World War II honored guest; Chase Goff, co-vice president; Gary Stoffer, co-vice president; and Ava Doyle, treasurer, during a Veterans Day celebration.

MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry Middle School held its annual Veterans Day program Friday, thanks to eighth-graders serving on student council.

The guest speaker was Gregg Bahen, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He is also a football coach in the district and spent the first nine weeks of the year teaching at the middle school. He spoke on being a hero and encouraged the student body to always be thankful for and respectful of veterans.

Albert “Chuckie” Patella, who was a staff sergeant in Company D, 115th Infantry, 1st Battalion, 29th Division during World War II, was the guest of honor. He was involved in the Normandy invasion and participated in three other campaigns in the European-African-Middle Eastern theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star. He is a lifelong resident of Tiltonsville and was a member of the University of Akron basketball team until the time of his departure for the service.

Also in attendance were approximately 30 veterans who were family, friends or neighbors of the students and staff.

Eighth grade students Akiya Friar and Brooke Bender sang the national anthem. Some students read poems. The fifth and sixth grades sang, and eighth-grader Breanna Jordan played “Taps.” One very special highlight was a slide show of pictures of veterans that were sent in by the students and staff. The student council also presented a check to Tom Cusick of the Ohio River Valley Elks. He is the veterans chairman and visits veterans in nursing homes and hospitals in Belmont County.