SHALER (KDKA) – Hundreds of local veterans were honored Wednesday at Shaler Area Middle School.

This was the 14th year students held a breakfast for veterans of all wars. This year, special recognition was paid to World War II vets.

“It is great, great seeing everybody,” John Farbacher, a World War II veteran, said.

For many World War II veterans, the breakfast has become tradition and a chance to share stories and catch up with old friends.

“I was a tailgunner on a B-17. I put in 23-and-a-half missions,” Bob Buckler, a World War II veteran, said.

“You see all these old fellows in here and they are still young in age and I grew up with them. They are still buddies,” William Winowich, a World War II veteran, said.

For the 7th and 8th graders involved in the breakfast, it is a learning experience. They said it is amazing to meet real life war heroes.

“I think this is really nice because these people have done so much. It is nice to let them know we really appreciate them,” 8th grade student John Melde said.

After breakfast, the students performed a show for the veterans.

The play was about a man who enlisted in the military after Pearl Harbor.

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