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By Alyse Horn

On Monday, May 5, Riverview Park welcomed a long-awaited addition to the park.

A new flagpole was installed and at 10 a.m. on Monday, ROTC students from Perry High School raised the American flag for the first time.

Riverview Park Foreman Bob Lacki said he is “very proud and happy there will finally be a flagpole in the park.”

Lacki said the flag will fly every day, and a solar powered light was installed at the top of the flagpole so it can be seen at night.

Councilwoman Darlene Harris helped secure funding for the flagpole, and thanked others who helped make the flagpole possible.

Former Public Works Director Rob Kaczorowski, Public Works First Division Supervisor Steve Bolar and Chuck O’Neil from Public Works were among those thanked by Harris and Lacki.

The four ROTC students from Perry High School who raised the flag for the ceremony were Javon Owens (sophomore), Andre Miller (sophomore), Mia Shields (senior), and Kaleb Wilkins (senior).

Owens said he and his peers thought they would be watching the ceremony and did not know they would be raising the flag until they got to the park. Needless to say, the students were surprised.

After graduation, Shields will go on to join the U.S. Navy and Wilkins the U.S. Army.

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Major Christopher Augustine (Ret.) of the United State Army Special Forces, who manages the ROTC program for Pittsburgh Public Schools, said the program helps make the students better citizens and leaders. He said the program can also help their future careers despite if students choose to join the military after graduation.

Correction: A previous version of this article referred to Major Christopher Augustine as Major Tom Augustine.