Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source
Lower Burrell VFW's Vietnam-era helicopter restored with help from Forbes Road students | TribLIVE.com
Monroeville Times Express

Lower Burrell VFW's Vietnam-era helicopter restored with help from Forbes Road students

Kellen Stepler
8930881_web1_vnd-Helicopter2
Courtesy of Ron Balla
Students from Forbes Road Career and Technology Center worked to restore a Vietnam-era helicopter displayed outside of the Lower Burrell VFW.
8930881_web1_vnd-Helicopter3
Courtesy of Forbes Road Career and Technology Center
Students from Forbes Road Career and Technology Center worked to restore a Vietnam-era helicopter displayed outside of the Lower Burrell VFW.
8930881_web1_vnd-Helicopter1
Courtesy of Forbes Road Career and Technology Center
Students from Forbes Road Career and Technology Center worked to restore a Vietnam-era helicopter displayed outside of the Lower Burrell VFW.

The Vietnam-era helicopter outside the VFW Post 92 in Lower Burrell has been restored thanks to the help of students from the Forbes Road Career and Technology Center in Monroeville.

Last weekend, students from Forbes’ SkillsUSA chapter partnered with AK Valley Back the Blue to repaint the helicopter, displayed outside the VFW, 1601 Wildlife Lodge Road.

“This was an incredible opportunity for our students to give back to those who served,” said Josh Krentz, autobody instructor and SkillsUSA advisor at Forbes.

“It’s hands-on learning with a purpose — our students got to apply their technical skills while honoring heroes and building community pride.”

Forbes students come from the Allegheny Valley, East Allegheny, Gateway, Highlands, Penn Hills, Plum, Riverview, Wilkinsburg and Woodland Hills school districts.

Mogie’s Mission, a Lower Burrell-based charity formed in honor of the late David “Mogie” Magill, and the Vinson Pelisari Foundation helped provide the paint and materials needed to restore the helicopter.

“It was a very kind gesture, honoring everyone who puts their lives on the lines for our freedom,” said Ron Balla, president of Back the Blue.

Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.

Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Get Ad-Free >

Categories: Local | Monroeville Times Express | Penn Hills Progress | Plum Advance Leader | Valley News Dispatch
Content you may have missed