By Rob Wheary, Staff Writer • csrobwheary@gmail.com
HEGINS – Capt. Jen Renninger remembers sitting where the students of Tri-Valley High School sat on Nov. 11, listening to the speakers during the annual Veteran’s Day program at the school.
This year, the 1999 graduate was in front of the students and a group of local veterans speaking to them all.
“I remember running the halls with Mr. McDonald, getting in shape for the service. Little did I know we would be back together in Iraq,” Renninger said.
Renninger shared videos with the students of her time in Ramadi, Iraq, serving in a medical unit in 2005 and 2006.
“We treated 11,000 soldiers in the field, 2,000 of them being trauma cases and airlifted 83 soldiers and two dogs for further treatment,” Renninger said.
Renninger, who is now a physician’s assistant and the deputy state surgeon for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, told the students for their future to find that one thing they love and go for it. For her, it was her time in the military.
“I’ve traveled all over the country and around the world and my life has changed for the better because of it,” Renninger said. “I want to leave you with a quote I love to live by, ‘Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It means you’re willing to look beyond the imperfection.’”
Also offering remarks at the program was State Rep. Mike Tobash, who said this was his 15th year with attending the program.
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