Perryopolis and Perry Township V.F.W. Gold Star Post 7023 and American Legion Post 752 will conduct their Memorial Day Service at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, May 28, 2012 at the Frazier High School Auditorium. It will begin with the playing of the National Anthem by the Frazier High School/Middle School Band directed by Rod Staggers.

Boy Scout Troop 625 and Scoutmaster John Snyder; Cadet Troop 54078, Leaders Dana Boyd and Lorri Clem; and Cub Scout Pack 626 and Pack Leader Lisa Maurer will then recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison with the audience. Following will be the invocation to be given by Ross Ackinclose, Lay Minister.

Peter P. Pierotti, Chairman of the Memorial Day Program Committee, will begin the program with some brief remarks and a presentation to Mr. Rod Staggers, the Frazier Band Director. Following him Robert Chuboy, Commander of V.F.W. Post 7023, will deliver the welcoming address.

Norman L. Zimmerman, Commander of American Legion Post 752, will introduce the dignitaries attending the services.

John Cernuska, Auditor of V.F.W. Post 7023, will then present the Patriotic Flag Raising Award to volunteer flag raisers of Frazier High School/ Frazier Middle School Russell Potter and Jesse Linders-Heck; Perry Elementary Bryanna Bakos,Mason Davis,Trevor Hayes, and Mackenzie Massey; and Central Elementary Justin Novak,Shane Price,Amber Shambaugh,and Riley Strickler. Our thanks to Middle School Principal Mr. Michael Turek, and teachers Mrs Susan Guiser and Mr. Edward Elnikar for their dedication to this program.

Richard Timko, Lieutenant-Commander USNR (Ret) will introduce and present awards to the winners of the Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy Contests. The awards are sponsored by the V.F.W. and its Ladies Auxiliary. Madlyn T. Crook, Frazier Middle School, is the winner of the Patriots Pen contest and will read her essay. Next, Frazier High School Student James S. Novobilsky, winner of the Voice of Democracy contest, will present his oration .

Following the presentation of the awards members of the Frazier band will perform patriotic musical selections under the direction of Rod Staggers.

The guest speaker is Captain Thomas J. Kapolka , U.S. Army Reserve. He was born in Washington, Pa. After graduating from Belle Vernon Area High School Kapolka joined the Marine Corps. He attended boot camp at Paris Island, South Carolina then Marine Combat Training and Advanced Infantry School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. After training he was assigned to the 4th Marine Division receiving his honorable discharge at the rank of sergeant in 2000.

He returned home and received a Bachelor’s Degree from California University of Pennsylvania in 2001.
Kapolka continued his service by joining the Army Reserves. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2001, received a direct commission to 2nd Lieutenant in 2004, and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 2006.
He deployed to Iraq in 2006 serving under the 1st Army East with a mission to observe Detainee operations in a combat theater and then develop an up-to-date training package for future deploying soldiers.
Returning home he was reassigned to First Army East in Coraopolis, Pa. and was promoted to Captain in 2008.
Captain Kapolka is a 2012 graduate of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and is currently serving in the Commonwealth as a Pennsylvania State Trooper.
Captain Kapolka is married to wife Dawn. They have a daughter Kate and are expecting a baby boy this summer.


At the conclusion of Captain Kapolka’s speech the Frazier Band Director, Rod Staggers, will present a Memorial Day Video.

Following the video Tony Fao, co-chairman of the program committee, will memorialize comrades who passed away in 2011and 2012 by reading their names aloud and then pausing for a moment of silence in their honor. The following veterans will be honored: Benjamin B. Brown, Paul Bubnash, Stanley R. Burkholder, Gina D. Cimini, Robert C. Clem, Leonard M. Colelli, Clifford D. Cumberland, John R. Domonkos, John E. Emricko, Sr., John J. Fleming, Catherine E. Grimm, Chester H. Ludwick, John Onusko, James R. Reagan, Andrew J. Shenal, Joseph M. Tapper, Sr., Wilfred Williams, and Christopher P. Zampatti.

Pastor Ed Arbogast, 1st Christian Church, Perryopolis will then give the benediction.

The services will then continue at the honor roll adjacent to the school with Michael Vindivich , Lay Speaker delivering a Memorial and Dedication Prayer. Boy Scout Troop 625, under the direction of Scoutmaster John Snyder, will raise the American flag and lower it to half-staff and place wreaths at the honor roll.

The ceremonial firing squad, under the direction of Tony A. Fao Sr., and under the command of Thomas Glawinsky and George Timko, will then fire the traditional salute for fallen comrades. Ending the tribute will be the playing of “Taps” by the Frazier Band buglers Josh Potter and Russell Potter.

This Memorial Day program is dedicated in honor of the veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The veterans would like to pass on this Memorial Day message as we take a day to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice “Freedom is not free and sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance.”