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The 79th birthday party is now history, and it was a wonderful day and party. A total of 65 members and their significant others, plus two guests, celebrated the party on September 4 at the New Alpine Club in Monessen.

The new Superintendent of the Monessen School District, Dr. Leanne Spazak, and her secretary, Susan Benning, were our honored guests at the event. Marilyn Brithinee Druash and Martha Senich Righetti worked the check-in table. Bob "Tybo" Tyburski and John Pallini worked the share the wealth table. Pati Fonner Pallini and Joyce Danko set out the program flyers and song sheets at the table settings. Madalyn Beres Billy, Margie Homas Opat and others set out food. Get-well cards were set out for everyone to sign for a few of our ill classmates. Carolyn Crusan Myers set out many photos of previous reunions and parties.

The class sang the MHS Alma Mater, and Nancy Kerns Horvath lead the class in the singing of the class song, which was set to the tune of "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows." Tybo played 'God Bless America' to which the class sang along. Invocation was given by Kerns.

After the buffet-style dinner, the class sang Happy Birthday. With Tybo playing "Hail to the Chief," Junior Class President Essey introduced Senior Class President Pallini, who delivered his annual State of the Class of '53 speech and officially welcomed the members of the class. Essey read the memorial to the deceased members. Next, they introduced the members of the local Veteran's council of Monessen. Each branch of the armed services was recognized, with classmates and guests requested to stand when their branch of the service was called out. All the veterans were received with a round of applause and a thank you was extended to the ladies and gentlemen for their service!

George thanked the committee, consisting of Beres, Brithinee, Senich, Ann Coccilone, Sherie Shutterly, Gail Hunter, Roseann Kulenic, Joe Chiaravalle, Don Jones, Nick Sowko, Margie Houlis, Barbara Jenion, Julie Skurla, Tyburski, Ron Danko, John Pallini and Pati Fonner, for their help this year. Thanks also went to Joanne Billick and her kitchen staff for the wonderful services rendered to the MHS Class of 1953. Winners of the share the wealth drawings were Robert Bogden, Sherie Shutterly Husher and Robert Kopko. Husher donated part of her winning back to the class. Thanks were extended to Nick and Helen Fisfis, Mickey and Pat Tweardy, the Holidays and the Peckynos for their donations to help defray some of the expenses of the class.

A great big thank you to all the members and their significant other for taking time out of their lives to join us in the 79th birthday celebration and hopefully, with God's help, we can all get together again in 2015, more than likely in September again.

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