• If someone at the door becomes agitated
or tries to hurry you, don’t let him/her in.
• “Distraction burglars” often work in pairs.
Don’t let them in if you don’t know who
they are, as one might distract you while
the other steals from your home.
• If you can, install a door chain so it can be
latched before you open the door.
• If you have a front door spy hole, use
this to see who is there. Otherwise, use a
nearby window.
• If you are unable to do any of the above,
talk to the person through the door
without opening it, and ask to see ID or
to pass it through the letter slot.
• Make sure you lock the back door before
answering the front door to someone you
don’t know.
• If you have a mobile or cordless phone,
take it to the door with you so you can
call emergency services quickly.
Peoples cares about your safety. If you
are ever in doubt, don’t let a stranger into
your home. Telephone local authorities
immediately and notify your neighbors as
soon as possible.
Second lieutenants Brandon Yarnovich and Michael D. Kinney, both graduates of West
Mifflin Area High School, hold their United States Military Academy diplomas as their
former Air Force JROTC program instructors Maj. Scott R. Harbula and Senior Master
Sgt. Oreste DiCerbo look on. Both young officers credit their Air Force JROTC training for
their success at West Point.
TWO FROM WEST MIFFLIN GRADUATE WEST POINT
TRIBUTE TO SERVICE
Members of West Mifflin Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid teamed up
with Kennywood Park on Memorial Day
to help raise funds to support veterans’
activities by selling Buddy Poppies. Pictured
from life to right are Michael P. Mauer, Army
Desert Storm veteran; Dennis Axelson, Navy
Vietnam veteran; Kennywood employees
Jessica Marburger and Courtney Alukonis;
David Luikart, Marines Vietnam veteran;
and Marine Bernie Zurawski, who served in
Lebanon and the Middle East.
EMMAUS HOLDING SPIRIT
RUN 5K
On Oct. 15, Emmaus will host its fourth
annual Spirit Run, a Halloween costume-
themed chipped 5K and 1-mile fun walk
to benefit the Emmaus Community of
Second lieutenants Michael D. Kinney
and Brandon Yarnovich, graduates of West
Mifflin Area High School, received their
diplom as and officers’ commissions as part
of the United States Military Academy
Class of 2017 at a ceremony held at Michie
Stadium in West Point, NY.
To be considered, a potential West
Point cadet’s academic aptitude, physical
fitness and character are heavily weighed.
Typically, less than 10 percent of those who
apply are accepted.
Yarnovich and Kinney were two of more
than 15,400 applicants from across the
United States and around the world who
were seeking admission into West Point as
part of the Class of 2017. Of that number,
1,193 new cadets were there to start the
first day. Four years later at graduation,
fewer than 1,000 of them made the final cut
and marched into Michie Stadium.
Both new officers credited their West
Mifflin Air Force JROTC instructors,
Maj. Scott R. Harbula and Senior Master
Sgt. Oreste DiCerbo, with guidance and
mentorship.
“Sergeant DiCerbo and Maj. Harbula do
an excellent job teaching discipline, goal
setting, respect, selfless service, integrity,
and much more,” said Yarnovich.
“Air Force JROTC really embraces and
reflects the values that Maj. Harbula and
Senior Master Sgt. Oreste DiCerbo try to
instill,” agreed Kinney, who was also a cadet
commander while in high school. “Those
values show the culture of the United States
military.”
While attending West Point, 2nd Lt.
Kinney majored in nuclear engineering.
He is slated to be assigned to a unit in
Fort Bliss, Texas. His classmate, 2nd Lt.
Yarnovich, studied economics and systems
engineering, and looks forward to joining
the elite 82nd Airborne Division as an
artillery officer.
In addition to the members of the Air
Force JROTC, both men credit the support
they received from their families to help get
them to this point in their careers.
“I would like to thank my parents and
brother,” said Kinney. “They really inspired
me to pursue a career in the military, and
the honor and integrity that comes with
serving our nation.”
In addition to also thanking his family
and friends, Yarnovich gave special praise
to his grandmother, Betty Yarnovich, who
took over the role of raising him when he
was orphaned at the age of 4. She worked
as a waitress for many years in nearby
McKeesport to help the young officer
achieve his dream of earning an Army
commission.
Continued on next page >
West Mifflin | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 7