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November 13, 2025Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School was proud to honor and recognize local veterans during its annual Veterans Day Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
The entire student body attended the assembly in the gym, which featured keynote speaker Chuck Kortovich ’95. Kortovich enlisted in the Marine Corps the summer after his junior year at VASJ. He left for boot camp the day after his high school graduation and served in the Marines for four years before he was honorably discharged in 1999. After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, he reenlisted and deployed to Iraq in 2005 with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines.
During his speech, Kortovich reflected on his time in the military and what it means to serve. He encouraged current students to live out the spirit of service and to learn the stories of veterans, including those etched in stone on the Veterans Memorial in the VASJ Courtyard.
“Even you, as students, serve in your own way — by working hard, showing respect and helping others," Kortovich said. "Every act of kindness, every moment of leadership, every effort to make your community better — that's service, too. Veterans understand this spirit of service because we've lived it, and we hope to see it continue in every generation that follows."
Following the keynote address, VASJ students lit memorial candles in honor of those who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terror.
Many alums who are veterans, members of law enforcement and fire department staff also attended the assembly. VASJ was especially honored to welcome Roy Streetz '54, an Army veteran and a member of the first graduating class of St. Joseph High School.
After the assembly, students in the National Honor Society and Student Council joined our guests for a continental breakfast. Our students enjoyed speaking with our veterans about their military service and what life was like for them when they were students in high school.
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