< PreviousCAround Your Town Around Your Town Dennis McMahon (also pictured next page) was a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the late 1980s. PHOTOS SUBMITTED STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY Dennis McMahon of Robinson Township experienced combat four times during the 20 years that he was in the Army, after serving in both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His most difficult assignment, however, came well before that, when he was just 23 years old and volunteered to be a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. “Only about 20% of the guards who go there make it,” he says, referring to soldiers who volunteer for the post. “Physically, mentally, you have to be fit. You’re learning how to be out there in front of people. The discipline, the honor, it’s hard to describe. I still get chills when I go there, thinking I did that.” This year marks the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was established in 1921 to honor American soldiers lost in Europe during World War I. In honor of the anniversary, The Society of the Honor Guard, which is made up of former sentinels and their family members, are making efforts to raise awareness of the tomb. In this area, the Rome Exchange Club of Georgia displayed a replica of the tomb at the Butler Farm Show in early August. The club is touring across the U.S. with the replica at events that will be attended by society members who will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the tomb’s history. “When they go places, they try to get as many tomb guards there as possible,” says McMahon. In this area alone, he says there are over a half dozen former sentinels. “Once you’re a tomb guard, you’re always a tomb guard,” he says. “Only a few a year get awarded. It’s the second least awarded badge in the military.” He says society members also visit VFW posts, schools, American Legion posts and other organizations to talk about the memorial and their service. McMahon joined the Army right out of high school in 1983 and, during the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1984, was selected to serve in a prominent position during the ceremonies. He says he thinks he got picked because he was tall. He then volunteered to become a tomb sentinel in 1987 and underwent three months of training. “During those months you’re doing nothing but training,” he says. “You’re learning the routine of the sentinels, how to shine shoes, prepare your uniform and learning the background of Arlington. Once you’re efficient enough, you get to go and walk in the morning when no one’s out there. After four or five months of that, you’ll get a regular rotation.” Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is considered a sacred duty and those who perform it follow an exacting and physically demanding routine. Sentinels guard the tomb 24 hours per day and each watch consists of three sentinels who relieve each other either one hour or every half hour, depending on the season, McMahon says. While guarding, sentinels march 21 steps south along a black mat laid across the ground. They then face east toward the tomb for 21 seconds. After that, they turn, face north, change their weapon to the outside shoulder and wait 21 seconds. They march 21 steps down the mat, then turn and face east for 21 seconds. Finally, they face south, change weapons to the outside shoulder and wait another 21 seconds. Sentinels repeat this process until relieved. The number 21 is significant because it corresponds with the highest military honor awarded. Sentinels also do not wear insignias so as not to outrank the soldiers interred at the monument. Three fallen service members are currently interred at the tomb from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. A soldier who served in Vietnam was also interred there until his remains were identified through DNA testing in 1998 and he was moved to a family gravesite. McMahon says sentinels follow a three-day routine. After working one full 24-hour day, they get the following day off to recover. They then get a second day off, but that day is usually dedicated to training, he says. The following day they return to duty. Despite their stoic appearance, tomb sentinels are not just there for show. McMahon says they will confront intruders or those being disrespectful. No one is allowed inside the chains surrounding the mat, and sentinels will intercept anyone who attempts to approach the monument. It is a military guard post. McMahon, though, says that “the weird things don’t happen very often.” He can recall only one time when he witnessed a sentinel having to physically confront someone. He says he’d just been relieved when the sentinel on duty had to stop a man who wanted to touch the tomb. For some reason, the man couldn’t seem to grasp the fact that he wasn’t allowed to do that and the sentinel responded by delivering a blow with the butt-end of his rifle, as the man just would not listen to requests to stop. Proper channels are available for those who would like to pay their respects by placing a wreath at the tomb. McMahon says this is often done by school groups. A sign-up is available through the Arlington National Cemetery website, though McMahon warns the list tends to be long. The president or vice president also places a Local veteran among rarified group of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sentinels raising awareness on centennial 30 • Allegheny West Magazine • August/September 2021wreath at the tomb on Memorial Day and Veterans Day each year. McMahon says he personally never got to guard on a Memorial Day, as his relief was off on those days, but he says he did get to meet a U.S. president during another chance meeting. While on detail on the South Lawn of the White House in 1985, he took a break with some secret service agents. “We were out setting up for a monthly presidential dinner and it was like 105 degrees,” he recalls. “The secret service guys brought us in and gave us some water, then all of a sudden Ronald Reagan came strolling in and just sat down.” He says Reagan asked each of them about their military service and why they joined. “I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “I’m this 21-year-old kid sitting there talking with the president. He just wanted to talk.” McMahon served as a sentinel at the tomb from 1987 to 1988. He later went from the Army into intelligence and retired in 2004. He has worked for the government for the past 17 years. Last year, he and his wife, Lisa, a West Allegheny High School alumna, moved from Butler to Robinson Township. McMahon suggests that teachers or anyone else interested in learning more about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier visit www.arlingtoncemetery.mil, where there is an educational toolkit available. Requests can also be made by groups for a visit from the Society of the Honor Guard to deliver an educational presentation about the tomb. For more, visit tombguard.org. August/September 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 31CAround Your Town Around Your Town Though we may not often appreciate it, many of the products that we use on a daily basis - from smart phones to cars - are comprised of many complicated parts that have gone through lengthy manufacturing processes. From the design phase all the way to manufacturing the final product, many of those parts are oftentimes shipped from multiple locations as they are molded, heat treated, tested and finally used in assembly. Further testing can lead to design tweaks and even longer manufacturing wait times. Advancements in 3D printing technology, however, are changing the way many companies think about the manufacturing process. The day may quickly be coming when some companies will prefer to simply manufacture parts in- house, and thereby cut down on the time and money that it costs to develop prototypes and final products. “When you print the part, instead of waiting three months or six months to get the part, in two days you have your part tested, [and you can say] ‘Oh, let’s make a little adjustment,’” says Philip Moslener, corporate vice president of advanced technologies for the Pittsburgh-based company Wabtec. Wabtec, which is part of the same Westinghouse company that was founded in Pittsburgh 150 years ago, takes its name from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation. The company makes products for rail-based transportation, including freight and passenger lines. After merging with GE Transportation in 2018, the company moved its base of operations from Wilmerding to Pittsburgh’s North Shore. In June, Wabtec also became the first company to open a 3D manufacturing facility at Neighborhood 91, a new industrial park located at Pittsburgh International Airport. Moslener says the facility is the company’s fourth 3D printing operation, though it’s the first dedicated to printing parts in aluminum. In addition to Wabtec, Rusal America, which produces powdered aluminum additives for 3D printing, is also opening a facility at Neighborhood 91. Arencibia, which produces and recycles gases used in 3D manufacturing, is to take up residence at Neighborhood 91 as well. David Storer, director of business development for the Allegheny County Airport Authority, says Neighborhood 91 was built specifically to cater to additive manufacturing. He says the airport authority is pushing to attract more companies involved in the additive manufacturing ecosystem as well as industries that can benefit from it. “We’re not going to be industry specific,” he says. “We’re looking to attract anyone who can benefit from additive manufacturing - and many industries can. It’s just that process of co-locating and being able to do it faster and cheaper.” Former state Sen. Matt Smith, who is now president of the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and also serves on the Allegheny County Airport Authority board of directors, says the idea is to bring everything needed for additive manufacturing to one place. “Everything you need is going to be here on the campus,” he says. “With 3D and additive printing, it’ll be one continuous cycle that exists completely on this campus. So, you’re not going to have to make something here, send it somewhere else, have it ship back here. Everything will be vertically integrated so you can just push it out.” In remarks delivered at an event held to mark the opening of Wabtec’s facilities, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said that Neighborhood 91 is the first of its kind in the country. Cassotis, who developed the idea for the advanced manufacturing site, said the idea came from consulting with various community members and stakeholders involved in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. “We have these world leading universities in CMU and Pitt that are doing the kind of research into artificial intelligence and robotics - which basically is 3D printing and advanced manufacturing...production makes sense as the next part of the additive manufacturing chain,” she said. “So, we stepped forward and thought, how can we act as a strategic landlord? How do we develop this land so that we can attract all parts of the additive manufacturing industry, which is new and looking for a home in the U.S.?” Eric Gebhardt, Wabtec’s chief technology officer, said in his own remarks that the company will be printing large-scale, aluminum lightweight parts at the facility for customers. In remarks, he also emphasized the collaborative process behind Neighborhood 91. “It brings together people from academia, industry, to pull together the best capabilities to really have an incubator to drive this forward,” Gebhardt said. “And, the members of this Neighborhood 91 sets stage for revolution in manufacturing STORY AND PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY ABOVE: Eric Gebhardt, Wabtec chief technology officer, cuts a ceremonial ribbon at the company’s new additive manufacturing facility at Neighborhood 91 on June 8. To his right are Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. BELOW: Philip Moslener, corporate vice president of advanced technologies for Wabtec, delivers remarks in front of a SLM 800 printer that the company will be using to print parts in aluminum. 32 • Allegheny West Magazine • August/September 2021community, of Neighborhood 91, will be sharing ideas, testing theories, really advancing everything going forward.” Wabtec’s facility has been outfitted with a SLM 800 printer that has a number of efficiencies built into it. Moslener says that instead of releasing argon gas that’s used during printing into the atmosphere, the gas is captured and recycled. The printer also recovers upwards of 95% of its leftover aluminum powder, which can then be used for a subsequent print. Moslener says that to print a part, argon gas, which is non-reactive, is pumped into a chamber. Lasers then weld thin layers of powdered aluminum - which is usually explosive in an oxygenated environment - together. The weld plate is then dropped a matter of microns and another thin layer of aluminum spread on top. That next layer gets welded on top of the last one. The process repeats thousands of times until the part is complete. Though printing one part can take a day or more, those who work for Wabtec say the process is still more efficient than traditional manufacturing. Peter Bocchini, a Wabtec site manager, says the process is also less labor intensive, particularly when it comes to milling parts. “If you were in a conventional machine shop and you were running that 24/7, you would have to run three eight-hour shifts with three different technicians running that machine,” he says. “With the printer, we only need the engineer to be at the machine during set up and breakout.” Storer says that Neighborhood 91 currently has two buildings constructed and that the airport authority is planning to break ground on more soon. An SLM 800 printer at Wabtec’s Neighborhood 91 facility utilizes lasers that weld together ultra-thin layers of powdered aluminum in a chamber filled with argon gas. August/September 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 3334 • Allegheny West Magazine • August/September 2021 The commencement ceremony celebrating the Class of 2021 moved outside this year to accommodate social distancing. The sunny evening of June 4 marked a memorable milestone for the Class of 2021 as they came together at Joe P. DeMichela Stadium. Family, friends, staff, administrators and school board members were on hand to recognize the 251 graduates and their accomplishments. Senior class officers Luke Boni, president; Olivia Thompson, vice president; Angela Costa, secretary; and Renee Rozum, treasurer, led the graduates into the stadium, where the colors were presented by the West Allegheny Marine Corps JROTC. Following the singing of the National Anthem by graduates Melody Dean and Cerina Wichryk, school board president Robert Ostrander presented the welcoming notes. The senior address was given by distinguished honors recipient Luke Boni. Teacher Robert Yost was honored to serve as this year’s distinguished faculty speaker and superintendent, Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert, and high school principal, Dr. Frank Hernandez, shared student achievements. They also celebrated the class with a video tribute from high school staff who offered humorous department-themed life lessons and well wishes. A video of the fifth annual Senior Celebration and Declaration Day highlighted the incredible memories from the event. The evening’s music was prerecorded by the Senior Chorus, under the direction of Terisa Sharlow, high school music teacher, and the West Allegheny Brass Ensemble performed under the direction of Steven Groba, middle school music teacher. Class of 2021 enjoys outdoor commencement ceremony RIGHT (FROM TOP): Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert, superintendent, and Dr. Frank Hernandez, high school principal, address the graduating class. Seniors gather in the gymnasium prior to processing into the stadium. JROTC members proudly present the colors. Graduate speaker Luke Boni shares words of wisdom with his classmates. August/September 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 3536 • Allegheny West Magazine • August/September 2021 SUMMA CUM LAUDE Lexi Cheyne Arp Jada Michal Babich+ Kevin Joseph Becker+ Katherine Olivia Bleil*+ Luke Anthony Boni*+ Alyssa Marie Brajdic+ Brooke Ann Colicchie* Marissa Ann Collins+ Alyssa Nicole Conn*+ Audra Lyn Cook+ Ethan Zachary Cooper+ Angela Sophia Costa Taylor Lin Coulter+ Mackenzie Ann Cruise+ Parker Joseph Cruise+ Melody Ann Dean+ Brooke Elizabeth Eannace+ Dylan Robert Eger+ Mackenzie Pearl Evers Joshua Thomas Ferry*+ Breana Rae Gerst Gianna Marie Giacomino+ Thomas Anthony Ginocchi III+ Dylan Victor Grass Meghan Alayna Grogan*+ Elizabeth Nicole Grubbs+ Brayden David Horton*+ Tyler Michael Howcroft+ Kaley Elizabeth Joseph+ Alyssa Lauren Keefer+ Tyler Nicholas Kiss*+ Evan LaClair Kosenina+ Alexander Von Kot Kendall Marie Kutzavitch*+ Samantha Marie Kyle*+ Scott Michael Lafferty+ Luke Joseph Lambert+ Elyssia Lee Lesko* Brianna Fay Longo*+ Larsen Mart Maasikas*+ Ethan Gerald McClain+ Olivia Faith McCracken* Ashley Marie McMahon*+ Jenna Elizabeth Milkovich Rebecca Leigh Miller*+ Alexander Michael Morton+ Nicolas Andrew Obringer Sarah Catherine Pentrack+ Keri Leigh Quasey*+ Sanskar Raghuwanshi Heather Marie Rice*+ Isabella Lee Richards Gary Anthony Ross*+ Liam Robert Routch+ Renee Kathleen Rozum*+ Margret Kathryn Russell+ Andrea Michelle Russo+ Sara Ashley Sawford*+ Anastasia Rose Schang*+ Hannah Nicole Schook Sean Matthew Seamon Morgan Taylor Shansky*+ Michael Alexander Sible* Tyler Scott Silvis Mia Faye Simpson+ Logan William Sorba Molly McCarthy Sorba+ Thomas Edward St. Claire II+ Ethan Gregory Taranto Mackenzie Mae Taranto*+ Lindsay Arlene Thomas+ Olivia Renee Thompson+ Kyleigh Anne Trecki+ Jillian Rose Wallace Sophia Marie Weber+ Cerina Danielle Wichryk*+ *Distinguished Honors +National Honor Society MAGNA CUM LAUDE The West Allegheny Class of 2021 Laude Graduates Dawit Wasihun Andualem Olivia Michele Baer Grant Timothy Baurle+ Samantha Elizabeth Berthold Connor Martin Blazer Robert Christopher Bleil Sydney Jean Bombich+ Evan Hugh Bordo Theodore Jaisen Boykin Jr. Earlin David Bracken Alaina Nicole Brown Gracie Nicole Campbell Morgan Faith Carnahan+ Brianna Lynn Chiodo Mya Olivia Clay Sydney Lynn Clay Jamie Lynn Collins Kylie Renae Cornell Laura Catherine Croco+ Joshua Giovanni Daley Zachary Nathaniel Davidson Tyler Samuel Dechant Justin Michael DeLuca Kayla Marie DeLuca Sylvia Mae Donahue Karley Jean Dunhoff Oscar Emerson Feely Allie Diana Godwin Camden Russell Harbert Caden Kelly Harbison Collin Thomas Hitchings Drew David Hoffman Tiffani Rose Hrapczak Julia Maria Karvelis Shane Michael Kennedy Jonathan Andrew Kutzavitch Riane Isabella Layden-Wright Caleb Lion Lee Savanah Marie Legnine Emma Rose Main Anthony Joseph Maltony Mario Joseph Marcellus+ Gabrielle Anne Martelli+ Catherine Alexandria Martsolf+ Dylan Robert Mersing Adam Christopher Mitko Tyler John Morgan Paul Temitope Newton Mason Alexander Palaima Jacob Michael Pfeffer Megan Nicole Pollinger Benjamin James Reno James William Richard Meadow Elizabeth Robertson Shelby Lynn Robertson Hailey Christine Sabin Sarah Carolyn Sabo Owen James Sagnimeni Sawyer Schuttinger Paige Elizabeth Sinclair Brett Michael Slovick Ambria Lynn Slutiak Lili Elizabeth Smith Emma Dawn Sorensen Julia Josephine Stalling Zachary Andrew Stayduhar+ Alayna Jean Stephens Matthew Allan Stewart Fernanda Mie Sato Tin Mikayla Marie Tomcik Elizabeth Rhonda Usenicnik Hannah Rose Wagner+ Rylie Elaine Wauthier Nicholas Raymond Yerkey Hope Noel Yoder +National Honor Society CUM LAUDE Brylinn Nevaeh Adamson Lauren Noel Andrews Cameron Michael Nathan Ashton Zachary Ethan Auber Kayleigh Lynn Bayer Brandon John Berlingeri Clayton James Cain Jordan Elizabeth Calandros Victor Ian Colledge Adam Thomas Crawford Lindsay Nicole Danzik Taylor Rae Davis Cole Thomas Fidell Brianna Grace Fields Nico Santino Flati Kayla Marie Frasier Kaylie Elizabeth Grimm Ian James Henry Salvador Hernandez Michael Fredrick Jak Brayden Thomas Krek Tristen Marie Lucas Delanie Mae Malatak Michael Patrick McGivern II Davin Kermitus McVay Tyler Jacob Merlina Skyler Lynn Miller Carter Dean Muirhead Takudzwa Sheanesu Muvuni Brady Nicholas Muzzey Faith Anne Pierrard Johnny Philip Ray Reed Nakayla Ciera-Lenay Roberts Taylor Noel Runyan Cameron James Sleasman Heather Leeanne Smith Collin Patrick Sorba Oskar Kenneth Stang Viktoria Mary Stang Trinity Lee Susanek Tristan Michael WilliamsAugust/September 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 37for weekly events , school closings , and delays . V isit W est A llegheny O nline : www . westasd . org B OArd Of s chOOl d irectOrs A dministrAtiOn Mr. Robert Ostrander, President Mrs. Tracy Pustover, Vice-President Mr. George Bartha Mr. Joel Colinear Mr. Edward Faux Mr. Kevin Hancock Mrs. Tracy Kosis Mrs. Debbie Mirich Mr. Mark Rosen Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert, Superintendent Dr. Christopher Shattuck, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Ms. Tammy Adams, Assistant to the Superintendent for Special Education and Student Services Dr. Shana Nelson, Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning Mr. George Safin, Business Manager Dr. Cheryl McHone, High School Principal Dr. Katharine Roche, High School Academic Principal Mr. Samuel Taylor, High School Assistant Principal Mr. David McBain, Director of Athletics Mrs. Patricia Nolan, Middle School Principal Ms. Megan Huchko, Middle School Assistant Principal Dr. Erin Dierker, Donaldson Elementary Principal Mrs. Melissa Wagner, McKee Elementary Principal Mrs. Rachel Gray, Wilson Elementary Principal Mrs. Toni Baldanzi, Supervisor of Ancillary Programs Mr. Kenneth Fibbi, Director of Facilities and Operations Mrs. Karen Ruhl, Community Relations Coordinator W est A llegheny s chOOl d istrict All material has been prepared, written or edited by Karen Ruhl, School Community Relations Coordinator, West Allegheny School District (724) 695-5274 West Allegheny School District is proud to announce that high school academic principal, Dr. Katharine Roche, has earned her doctorate degree after successfully defending her dissertation May 25. Her dissertation topic was titled “A Qualitative Study of Influence of Student Presence in Teacher Professional Development” and was completed from Duquesne University. Roche joined the District in 2014. High school academic principal Dr. Roche earns doctorate Dr. Katharine Roche Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert was named the 2021 Outstanding Superintendent by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, which grants the recognition to chief school administrators who recognize the importance of music and the arts in school curriculum. “You not only believe in and support the music program, but you do a great deal about it by acknowledging the standards set forth by the outstanding music teachers in the West Allegheny School District,” the PMEA stated in a letter informing Lippert of the honor. The award was presented to Lippert during the 2021 PMEA Virtual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 27. PMEA names Dr. Lippert 2021 Outstanding Superintendent Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert PMEA 2021 Outstanding Superintendent The District was pleased to promote Samuel Taylor to the position of high school assistant principal, as approved by the board of school directors. Taylor started in his new role July 1 in preparation for the start of the 2021-2022 school year in August. Taylor has served as a mathematics teacher at West Allegheny Middle School since 2015, when he came to the District from the Virginia Beach School District. While at West Allegheny, Taylor has filled the leadership roles of math curriculum and assessment coordinator; Indian Pride (PBIS) team member; membership and student interventions consultant within the PBIS High Fidelity designation; technology coach; and Canvas trainer. Outside the classroom, he has served as a football coach for five years and a varsity baseball coach for four years. “I take great pride in being part of the West Allegheny family and have gained so much from working with the students, staff, and families of this district,” said Taylor. “I look forward to continuing to build those relationships in a new capacity as an assistant principal.” Sam Taylor promoted to assistant principal Administrators welcome Samuel Taylor to the team following his promotion. 38 • Allegheny West Magazine • August/September 2021 August/September 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 39Next >