Three military veterans who were charged with crimes graduated from Lancaster County’s Veterans Court for a chance to have those charges reduced, dismissed and/or expunged.

Three servicemen, one of the Army, one of the Marines and one of both the Army and Marines, graduated Thursday, earning certificates from Judge Jeffery Wright.

Another serviceman participating in Veterans Court advanced to the next phase of the program during the ceremony. Two additional participants, who had previously graduated from the program, were sentenced and had supervision terminated as a result of successful completion of the aftercare portion of the program.

The graduation began with the presentation of colors, national anthem, and the anthem of each of the branches. Judge Wright started the ceremony before Stephen Shaw, mentor coordinator, introduced the mentors of the program. Each participant is assigned a mentor, who is also a veteran.

Mentors of Team Alpha include Missy Hinerdeer, Alex Degenhardt, Bill Gasperetti, Steve Adolt, Denise Erbal, Bob Chavous, Mike Heisey, Nick Burkholder, Matt Fasnacht, Chris Bradley, Steve McClune and Fae Skuya.

Mentors of Team Bravo include Marcus Zito, Johnny Pistone, Art Cassot, Dan Natividad, Dave Ferster, Chuck Cott, Randy McGugian, Peter Beckary, Tom Gillion, Charlie Gross, Jeff Runz, Rob McMonigal, Rich Wilson.

Vietnam veterans were recognized and asked to stand, as were previous Veterans Court graduates.

Next was guest speaker Chief John T. Bey of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, and retired member of the Air Force, who provided advice to his fellow servicemen about surrounding themselves with like-minded individuals who will be a positive influence in their lives.

Bey also touched on the graduates continuously seeking educational opportunities. "Leaders are always learning," he said.

Following his speech, Bey joined the participants and some mentors in completing pushups in memory of veterans who have committed suicide.

The ceremony concluded with Hamlet, Courthouse Facility Dog, selecting names from a fishbowl for a prize. Names of participants who have achieved an outstanding accomplishment are placed in the fishbowl.

Members of the Veterans Court include Karen Andreadis, Coordinator; Devin Orme, Senior Probation Officer; Adam Wolter, Senior Probation Officer; Stephanie Smith, Assistant District Attorney; Cody Wade, Assistant District Attorney; David Romano, Public Defender; Carla Cyr, Veterans Justic Outreach Specialist; Chris Constance, Director Lancaster Veteran Center; Julia Hernandez, Drug & Alcohol Commission; Anne Bingaman, Law Clerk; Thomas Romanowski, Community Liaison; Eric Eshleman, Behavioral Healthcare Corporation; Christina Fluegel, LCP Counselor; Sergeant John Donnelly, Manheim Township Police; Trina Brown-Hinton, Treatment Court Clerical Specialist; Hamlet, Courthouse Facility Dog.