Bethel Park joins Wreaths Across America in honoring veterans

While active in the U.S. Marine Corps, Devlin Robinson fought in both hotbeds for post-9/11 American military action, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He was in the same general age range of two Army servicemen from near his Bridgeville home, a few years older than Russell Kurtz of Bethel Park and slightly younger than Patrick Kutschbach of Kennedy Township.

Robinson returned from overseas to start a successful business and, in 2020, win election to the Pennsylvania Senate.

Sgt. Kurtz and Staff Sgt. Kutschbach are buried side by side in Bethel Cemetery.

On Dec. 16, the cemetery was one of 4,225 participating sites for National Wreaths Across America Day, during which volunteers paid tribute to more than 3 million veterans by laying wreaths at their graves.

Among the people scheduled to speak at the Bethel Park event was Robinson, who talked beforehand with Roger and Jill Kurtz, Russell’s parents. From them, Robinson learned a story that he shared during his time at the podium.

Russell Kurtz and Patrick Kutschbach met at their Army recruiting station and hit it off well from the start.

“They went to boot camp together,” Robinson said. “They trained together and served together.”

Kurtz died in Fallujah, Iraq, on Feb. 11, 2007. He was 22.

Robinson related Kutschbach’s reaction:

“They had formed such an important bond together at the recruiting station that Patrick said, ‘If anything should happen to me, even though I’m not from Bethel Park, I want to be laid right next to my brother, my best friend.’”

On Nov. 10, 2007, Kutschbach was killed north of the Afghan capital of Kabul. He was 25.

“Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear,” Army veteran Michael Bonacci, Bethel Park Wreaths Across America guest speaker, said.

In honor of service members past and present, volunteers laid 14 ceremonial wreaths representing branches of the U.S. military and associated groups. Roger Kurtz placed one on behalf of Gold Star families, those losing immediate members during times of conflict.

Others included:

• Army veteran Skip Hornak, for the 93,129 people from all branches of service who are either prisoner of war or missing in action.

“These individuals never returned to their families and homes,” Bethel Park Mayor Jack Allen, who announced participants in the ceremonial placements, said. “We shall not forget you.”

• Dr. Tim Campbell, a Bethel Park physician, for uniformed members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.

• Officer Robert Meussner Jr. of Bethel Park police, an Army veteran, for police first responders.

• Deputy Chief Russ Beeson of Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company, an Air Force veteran, for firefighter first responders.

• Andy Pichora and Justin Kemmler of Tri-Community South Emergency Medical Services, for EMS first responders.

• Marine Corps veteran Haya Eason, on behalf of service members who took their own lives.

“Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among veterans under the age of 45,” Allen said.

Following the playing of “Taps” by bugler Tom Beaver, volunteers ventured throughout the cemetery to lay wreaths at veterans’ graves.

Lisa Jenkins, who brought Wreaths Across America to Bethel Park in 2021, served as local coordinator for the third year.

“I received a text message from someone very close,” she told those in attendance. “It said, ‘Your dad would be proud of you today.’ He is such a big part of why I’m here.”

David Schmitt (1928-2017), an Army tank driver in Korea, regularly participated with his daughter in Memorial Day parades and other patriotic events in Bethel Park.

Jenkins expressed gratitude to numerous groups, including sponsor Bethel Park Historical Society and wreath-transporting South Hills Movers, for making the event possible, and she thanked the day’s volunteers:

“We encourage you and your children to get involved in your community, to serve in small ways that can make a big impact. You don’t have to be in the military to serve your own community and country.”

For more information about Wreaths Across America, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.