Late master of ceremonies honored at Oakmont-Verona Memorial Day Program

In 2022, longtime Oakmont-Verona Memorial Day Program master of ceremonies Russell Truby asked U.S. Army Maj. Dimitri Facaros to provide remarks.

“He had the idea that I come last year, and I couldn’t make it based on a work conflict,” Facaros said while serving as featured speaker for this year’s program. “So it’s certainly bittersweet that now I can be here, and he’s no longer with us.”

Truby, who died July 4 at age 67, was a focal point during the May 29 observance at Verona Cemetery in Oakmont, which was preceded by a parade.

“While we are honoring our veterans and memorializing those who passed, I’m specifically here today to present a citation for somebody that we dearly miss in this community,” state Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, said. “Russ consistently worked as a tireless advocate to make this community an outstanding place to live, work and visit for citizens of all ages.”

The citation from the House of Representatives acknowledges Truby’s civic contributions, including his service as president of the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce and Oakmont Lions Club, and on the board of the Riverview Community Action Center.

As master of ceremonies for the Memorial Day program, he continued a tradition that started in 1892, according to his son, Sean, who succeeds him in that capacity.

Sean Truby introduced Facaros, with whom he played football at Riverview High School, prior to his remarks.

“He was a captain on the team, and I think the leadership qualities he had then, he still carries today,” Truby said.

Facaros, who serves as judge advocate at Fort Bragg, N.C., spoke about why Americans choose to join the military.

“It could be as easy as they believe in the country, so patriotic duty,” he said, or perhaps following precedent set by family members.

“My own father came from Greece. And he came because the military had taken over. What an interesting paradox we find ourselves in. I’m now in the Army, and an army displaced him. But he wasn’t cynical. And why? Because he believed in the country, and the country set the conditions for someone like me to be raised and join and fight for,” Facaros said.

For him, the choice came after his 2002 Riverview graduation.

“As Sean mentioned, my life was football,” he said. “So it wasn’t until probably into college that I made that decision, to how I can better serve the nation. Now, 9/11 did happen when I was a senior in high school, and so it was always on my mind.”

But another factor weighed into his determination:

“What’s my community about? What would I want to do to help protect and set the conditions for the next community, to allow young people to be young and grow up with democracy and the ideals we have. This is going to be my purpose, and that’s fulfilling to me.”

Facaros cited his Memorial Day visit as confirmation of what he seeks to defend.

“Look how wonderful this is, for the people I haven’t seen in years to come up and say hello,” he said. “And that’s not a testament to me, but the fabric that’s woven into Oakmont and Verona, and the larger Pittsburgh community.”

For him, Russell Truby embodied that type of attitude.

“If you’re approachable, if you’re open to the people in the community and what they can give you, you can use that to fuel you, to aspire,” Facaros said.

“Even today in my office, I try to smile big, just because I know Mr. Truby was smiling big. And he was much taller. So for a short man like me, it was quite intimidating. I’m bracing for impact, because his joy was so strong.”