Photo by Scott McCloskey Making plans for the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival Veterans Appreciation Ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, on the main stage at Heritage Port are (seated); speakers for the event, Veterans Wayne Barte of Wheeling and SFC Cindy Barone of Pittsburgh and standing from left: committee members, John Nanny, past commandant Department of West Virginia Marine Corps League and Sam Nazzaro Sr. of Wheeling, and Michael Novotney, veterans outreach specialist for the Wheeling Vet Center - U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, will be serving as this year’s Master of Ceremonies.

WHEELING — A veterans appreciation ceremony will kick off Saturday’s events at the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival at Heritage Port.

A committee led by John Looney, director of the Wheeling Vets Center, John Nanny, past commandant Department of West Virginia Marine Corps League ,and Sam Nazzaro Sr., will recognize veterans with an 11 a.m. appreciation ceremony that began as part of the festival program back in the mid-1980s, according to Nazzaro, who will welcome the crowd to the event.

Michael Novotney, veterans outreach specialist for the Wheeling Vet Center – U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, will be serving as this year’s Master of Ceremonies, will also have the honor of introducing this year’s veteran speakers: Wayne Barte of Wheeling and SFC Cindy Barone of Pittsburgh. Novotney said he is extremely humbled and honored to be asked by Nanny and the committee to serve as this year’s Master of Ceremonies.

Nazzaro said the committee decided to invite two local veterans who could relate some of their experiences to the community for this year’s event.

Both Barone and Barte said being selected as speakers for the event is a tremendous honor for them and they will be speaking about what their military service has meant to them and how it has contributed to the local community.

Barone, who joined the U.S. Army in 1978, was the first female soldier of the year for MACOM Fort Ord, California. She had worldwide assignments, including in Korea and Germany and special mission units requiring high security clearances. She retired at 22 years of honorable and faithful service.

Barte, who has a Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University and a B.A. Degree from West Liberty University, served in the Marine Corps, where he was a decorated veteran with service in Vietnam. Following his military service in 1972, he began his professional career in municipal management and became one of the youngest city managers in the country when he was appointed to that position for the City of Wheeling. Barte continues to remain active working for the Wheeling Park Commission at he Oglebay Tennis Center and as a park ranger. He is a life-long resident of Wheeling. Barte and his wife, Maureen, have one son and two granddaughters who reside in Cincinnati.

The program will include: Gage Joseph will lead the singing of the national anthem; the U.S. Army Recruiting Station and SFC John Lanos will post the colors, and Steve Novotney of Wheeling and a father of a veteran will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Larry Beck, Marine Corps League chaplain, will provide the invocation and Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott will present a proclamation.

The Empty Chair Ceremony will be conducted by Dave Schoenian with the Military Order of Purple Heart. Joe Fatigati, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, will perform the presentation of wreaths, and Lou Casini will play Taps.

Nanny said said it is a great gesture to recognize all the veterans in the community as part of the annual Italian Festival.

“It’s always been very nice,” he said.

Nanny, who will give the introduction of colors, will also present the the Chapel of the Four Chaplains recognition awards later in the ceremony. He said he decided to add the Four Chaplains awards to the program in 2012.

Nanny said the award was set up to recognize people in the local communities who go above and beyond in their work to make the community, the state, and the nation a better place. He said he will be presenting several Four Chaplains Awards during that segment of the ceremony. Nanny, a recipient of the award himself, said only past recipients of the award can nominate others for the distinguished honor.

The festival is being held today through Sunday at Heritage Port in downtown Wheeling.