Riverside School District To Host Veterans Day Assembly

On Wednesday, Riverside High School will host its annual Veterans Day Assembly. The assembly this year will honor the four Riverside young men who lost their lives in Vietnam.

In the fall of 2019, a Riverside graduate visited Riverside High School, asking about our Riverside boys who lost their lives in Vietnam. He explained that he was participating in the Honor Flight program that provides transportation for Vietnam veterans to visit the memorial in Washington DC, and he wanted to be sure to know all their names.

A few weeks later, he returned with a beautifully framed piece with the rubbings of the four names – Larry Boyer, David Smith, Robert “Punky” Kuner, and David Brown – which he presented to the school. It was planned to make a formal presentation, but it never happened due to Covid restrictions.

At the assembly on Wednesday, this donor (who prefers to remain anonymous) will be in attendance. There will be a presentation made of the framed rubbings to the district, and could be put on display.

Also in attendance will be representatives of the families of two of the boys, who will be presented copies of the rubbings made for each of the families to keep. Unable to attend, the family of Larry Boyer will be given their rubbings in the near future. The family of David Francis Smith has unfortunately not been located yet. If anyone knows of them, please contact Riverside High School.

At the assembly, Riverside students will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and present several patriotic musical selections. A special commemorative video will be shown featuring the four Riverside young men. An Honor Guard will be there to present and retrieve the colors. Other veterans from Legion Post 474 in Zelienople have been invited. Any veteran is welcome to attend, and should arrive at the high school before the assembly at 1:00. All visitors will be asked to present ID and be scanned in.