Congressman John P. Murtha will be the keynote speaker at this year’s commencement, Saturday, May 13 at 11 in the Katherine Mabis McKenna Center on Seton Hill’s Greensburg campus.
Murtha has been the U.S. representative for the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania since 1974. The congressman was born in Westmoreland County in 1932 and began serving his country in 1952 when he joined the Marines during the Korean War. Murtha served in Vietnam from 1966-1967, earning the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He remained in the reserves and retired as a colonel from the Marines in 1990, after 37 years of service.
By Alexandra Nseir,
Staff Writer
Congressman John P. Murtha will be the keynote speaker at this year’s commencement, Saturday, May 13 at 11 in the Katherine Mabis McKenna Center on Seton Hill’s Greensburg campus.
Murtha has been the U.S. representative for the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania since 1974. The congressman was born in Westmoreland County in 1932 and began serving his country in 1952 when he joined the Marines during the Korean War. Murtha served in Vietnam from 1966-1967, earning the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He remained in the reserves and retired as a colonel from the Marines in 1990, after 37 years of service.
Seton Hill University president Jo Ann Boyle is excited to have Congressman Murtha speak to this year’s graduating class.
�He is a good friend of Seton Hill’s and remains interested in our programs and curriculum,� she said. �He has a record of extraordinary service to the district and to the country. He is an admired and esteemed member of Congress.�
The congressman caused quite a stir in the House last year when he called for withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
Boyle said this controversy did not concern her when choosing Murtha as a speaker, saying that if anything it made him a �more timely decision.�
As for the message Boyle would like to send to the graduates, �I would remind them of the mission statement of the school. There is a lot of work to be done out there, they should make things better for their part of the world.�
Boyle noted that this year’s seniors are pursuing a wide-range of careers from teaching and law to jobs in the scientific field.
Senior class president Justin Norris will also be making farewell remarks at this year’s commencement.
Some students, however, feel that the congressman’s political affiliation may be an issue.
�Personally I like him (but) the school commencement speaker should be neutral, somebody that everybody would enjoy listening to,� said Ashley Welker, a senior.
To Joshua Sabota, a senior, Murtha’s affiliation doesn’tmatter.
�I think he’s a good figurehead. He’s probalby a good public speaker…I don’tthink he’s going to campaign.�
Sabota added that Murtha will probably present something that graduating seniors can use as a life lesson.
Honorary degrees will also be presented at commencement. Mary-Lou McLaughlin, founder of Family House in Pittsburgh, and William Stavisky, the Greater Latrobe Superintendent of the Year will receive degrees.
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