KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE
Lisa Vinson leads The Inspirational Choir during a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. at the Bethel Baptist Church in Phoenixville Monday night.
PHOENIXIVILLE » It’s been a half-century since the class of 1968 walked the halls of Phoenixville Area High School.
As part of their 50th Anniversary celebration this year, members of the class, with the assistance of the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation, have organized a scholarship fund to honor one of their own who served and ultimately gave his life during the Vietnam War.
John A. Polefka was a Phoenixville native who attended St. Ann’s Elementary School through the 8th grade. Classmates remember him as being friendly but quiet and shy, keeping mostly to himself. With the rest of his class, John entered PAHS in 1965 as a 9th grader. He remained only until the end of the 10th grade, however, at which time he left to go to work for the West Company in Phoenixville.
Shortly after his 18th birthday and just as the war in Vietnam was really intensifying, John joined the United States Army. Immediately following basic training, John’s combat unit was stationed in Vietnam. By mid-1969, still short of a full year of service, John had already attained the rank of corporal. On August 31, 1969, while fighting near Binh Long, Vietnam, John was killed in a rocket/mortar attack. His name is listed today on Panel 18W, Row 17 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in our nation’s capital.
The ongoing scholarship drive in John’s memory is designed to benefit this year’s graduating PAHS class, and specifically young men and women contemplating entering the armed forces or pursuing a career in a law enforcement related field.
Said 1968 Class President Chas Kopp, “A group of classmates got together and really wanted to do something special and unique as part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations. Honoring John and, by ex- tension, all those who have served, seemed like a really fitting thing to do especially as we also wanted to give a ‘hand up’ to graduating PAHS seniors who, as John did, intend to serve their country.”
Anyone interested in donating to the campaign can visit www.pcefonline.com/ class of 1968. PAHS seniors or their families interested in applying for the Scholarship can contact PCEF (610-933-5911) or the PAHS Guidance Department for more information.