Sgt. 1st Class Ryan A. Gloyer

        Although they never meet, four Seneca Valley upperclassmen found a special way to honor a military alumnus.  Sgt. 1st Class Ryan A. Gloyer graduated from SVSD in the year 2000.  After graduation, he attended Thiel College in Greenville, Pa. He graduated with cum laude honors and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and elementary education.  In December 2004, Gloyer enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman, completing basic training, advanced individual training and airborne school at Ft. Benning, Ga.  [Read more…]

        Dignity Home Care Professionals is a veteran-owned, family-run elder care service.  Co-owner, Tom Schad followed in his family’s footsteps when he decided to serve his country.  “I was compelled to join the military due to the many family members who served, both my grandfathers in World War II, a great uncle in the Korean War, an uncle in Vietnam and several cousins who served in the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq in the early 1990s,” Tom said.  [Read more…]

           Last month, in our Support Our Troops column, we featured a World War II story on four Army chaplains who perished on the SS Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943.  After the ship was torpedoed they helped soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own lifejackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said prayers and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.  [Read more…]

By Paula Green 

“As I swam away from the ship, I looked back. The flares had lighted everything. The bow came up high and she slid under. The last thing I saw, the Four Chaplains were up there praying for the safety of the men. They had done everything they could. I did not see them again. They themselves did not have a chance without their life jackets.”      — Grady Clark, survivor  [Read more…]

By Paula Green 

           Germany started World War II by invading Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. The battle raged on for six long years, and on Sept. 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered, which ended World War II.  [Read more…]