As a tradition for many years, Western Wayne administration, faculty, staff, and students joined together on Monday, November 9, to celebrate veterans in the community with a special in-school event that featured music from the high school band and chorus, a presentation by a keynote speaker local retired Staff Sergeant Earl Granville originally from Carbondale, who lost his left leg, through the knee, to a roadside bomb while on patrol.
Granville,who now resides in Texas with his wife Diana, captivated all in attendance, including many local veterans and the middle and high school student bodies, from start to finish with his presentation program called The Weight We Carry.
Granville served nine years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as an Infantryman, with deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Granville has received numerous awards for his service and volunteer work, including the 2018 Attorney General Heart So Big Award, the 2018 Daughters of the American Revolution Veterans Volunteer Award, and the 2026 National Social Media Award for Veteran of the Year.
In addition, after retiring from the Army as a Staff Sergeant, he earned numerous awards, including the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Order of Saint Maurice Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.
He was introduced by his fellow veteran and friend Mr. Casey Newcomer, Western Wayne Middle School principal.
“I had the privilege of serving alongside Earl during one of his tours in Iraq,” Newcomer recounted. “This makes it a personal honor to introduce him today.”
Granville told the students his story of military service with sincere honesty. He explained how when he was in high school his biggest reason for joining the military was that it could help him financially in college.
“I was making it about me,” Granville told the students.
However, once Granville became a part of the 109 Infantry out of Honesdale and spent time on missions with his fellow soldiers and twin brother Joseph Granville, who he enlisted with, his feelings about the military started to change. He described his appreciation for the work he was doing as his passion.
He recounted really starting to feel an inner calling for military service in 2003 when he took a deployment to Iraq with Newcomer and other soldiers in the 109 Infantry.
“I could see I was a part of something bigger than myself,” Granville explained. “I saw the big picture. This isn’t about me. It’s about us. It’s about being a part of something bigger than myself.”
During this tour, Granville experienced the loss of seven soldiers from the Northeastern Pennsylvania area in his unit.
“This isn’t just a toll on the 109th but on our society in NEPA,” Granville reflected.
Later, for Granville’s final tour, he worked with the 103 Armory to help local villages in Afghanistan rebuild schools. Granville explained how the Taliban would destroy schools in the evenings because of their desire for women not to have an education. He really felt invested in his work on this last tour and believed he and his fellow soldiers made a difference for the local people.
He recalled the peace and beauty he saw in the surrounding area in Afghanistan the day he sustained his injuries. It was a true calm before the proverbial storm moment for his unit.
His teammates, Major Scott Hagerty of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Specialist Derek Holland of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, tragically died from the blast that day.
Granville said that the men were not sitting in the usual seats they did in the vehicle, and he will never forget how that changed the course of his life. He doesn’t take a day for granted since surviving his injuries and feels proud to tell the story of his brave comrades who died that day knowing that very easily the roles could have been reversed.
Upon returning home, Granville earned his graduate degree from The University of Scranton and now works with several nonprofits including Operation Enduring Warrior and Warrior Strong Inc., helping wounded and disabled veterans and law enforcement officers remain physically active after their injuries.
Granville described the unique path that led him to working with these nonprofit organizations after he returned home and was honorably discharged following his injury.
He described not missing a beat and taking the challenge of his recovery head-on. His twin brother Joseph did not choose to enlist for the tour that led to Granville’s injury and discussed with his brother how he wished he had done the tour. Granville explained how he told his brother not to feel that way, and that he was grateful they were both safe and living their lives with their families.
In December of 2010, Granville’s brother Joseph took his life while on active duty. This was, of course, a period of great sadness for Granville and his family, and after Granville had made all of the arrangements and ensured his brother’s military legacy was preserved, he started to feel like he did all those years ago when he first enlisted and made the process about himself.
“Idle hands are the devil,” Granville said. “Without purpose, trouble can find you.”
Granville joked with the students that he was starting to become like Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite until a friend pushed him to get back into physical fitness, and he found his way to the Operation Enduring Warrior program.
After earning a spot in this program, Granville told the students that he truly felt fulfilled.
“I was given a purpose once again,” he explained.
He then laid out the top three things that he feels all individuals including the students should focus on to find success in their lives.
“Number one is purpose; number two is passion; and number three is being a part of something bigger than yourself,” he explained.
He also discussed the importance of having a positive attitude in life, not being afraid to leave your comfort zone, and being a part of a community.
“By relying on community, when those days get heavy you don’t have to carry it yourself,” Granville explained.
He ended his presentation by taking out a cinder block with an American flag in it which he called “Cindy.” He explained how in the organization he is a part of, that some of their athletic challenges involve carrying the block and passing it on to others to symbolically represent how we all share mental and other hardships as a community and can carry that weight more easily as a team.
“It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about us,” Granville concluded. “We carry the weight together.”
He received a standing ovation from both his fellow soldiers in attendance and the student body.
Mr. John Gaudenzi, Sergeant First Class Army and 39 year educator of the Western Wayne School District, who originated the Veterans Day Program at Western Wayne in 1982 with fellow teacher Marie Casper, thanked Granville for his inspiring presentation to the students.
The Western Wayne School District also thanks Granville for his service and is grateful that the study body could hear such a compelling story about overcoming adversity as they prepare for the challenges that lie ahead in their own lives.
Picture one, back row, from left: Casey Newcomer, Army, National Guard; Frank Aravjo, Air Force; Dan Karnick, Navy; Josh Harrison, Army; Bill Gillette, USMC; Elwood Merring, Army; Samuel Fox, Army; Don Wilmot, USMC; Robert Kessler, Army; Earl Granville, Pennsylvania Army National Guard; Michael Urban, Army; John VanLeuven, Navy; and John Gaudenzi, Army. Seated, from left: Bill Hiller, Navy; George Hernandez, Air Force; Joe Engle, Naval Air Force; Harry Feldman, USMC; Kent Swartz, USAF; Jonathan Janes, Army; Paul J. Salak, National Guard; and Gary Sereno, Army.
Picture two: Veterans Day assembly keynote speaker Staff Sergeant Earl Granville and Casey Newcomer, Western Wayne Middle School principal, United States Army National Guard.
Picture three: Mr. John Gaudenzi, Sergeant First Class Army, standing at attention for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Picture four: Western Wayne Drum Major, Jason Vass, senior plays “Taps” to close out the assembly with sophomore, Marissa Mitchell not pictured.
Picture five: Granville holds “Cindy” the cinder block.
