Bill Neal: Banfield Street — A gathering of lifelong friends

Penn Hills deputy Mayor Frank Pecora (far left) and Councilmen Mark Brodnick (far right) presented the Penn Hills group with a proclamation from the Mayor’s office. Also in the photo, left to right, are Bill Neal, Dwayne Rideout and Brandon Thomas. 

by Bill Neal, For New Pittsburgh Courier

It is in fact true that you can always go home again.

That’s exactly what 25 or so original residents of Banfield Street in Penn Hills did. A return to that slice of Heaven located in the seemingly perpetual shade of Penn Hills that produced some of the finest and most accomplished individuals in the history of the municipality.

An event that was 25 years in the making that was scripted and put into play by collective members of the group who realized it was the right time and the right place.

Certainly that feeling is made most apparent by the growth of the families that blossomed from the original OG’s! Children, grandchildren and a cross-section of relatives and friends were introduced to the wonderful memory of life and times growing up a part of the Banfield community.

These are the children that were raised by the village that Maya Angelou spoke of.

As I stated once before, I will ask for your acceptance of the achievements without names for fear of leaving someone accidentally out. That being said, our humility supersedes the need. But I imagine, if you will, the following from one street in Penn Hills…a military veteran, martial arts master, schoolteachers, ordained ministers, college and pro athletes, police officer, corrections officer, community leaders, Hall-of-Famers, record-holders, corporate executives, sports writer, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and a list of accomplishments that would run all the way down the length of Frankstown Avenue. (That’s an inner circle tip. You know if you know.)

All in all, the mission was extremely successful and a grand time was had by all, with the exception of the loved ones lost, those dearly departed. We know they smile down on the effort and on us. God bless them all.

Brandon Thomas

We want to take this opportunity to thank Senator Jay Costa for the presentation of a proclamation from his office, Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese, the current residents of Banfield Street, the Elite Corvette Club of Pittsburgh and all the contributors to this massive effort to reunite persons covering 10-plus states.

We take great pride in our beginning, our growth and development and we humbly thank God for the wonderful parents and tutelage we were blessed to receive throughout the years.

We shout out loud and proud during the process we never, ever thought that we were better than anyone else. In fact we recognize THAT WE WERE SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT!

 

 

 

 

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