Meet the Cast

Josh Cannon

Josh Cannon is a former Marine and served two tours in Iraq from 2003-2005. He currently works for the University of Pittsburgh Honors College where he teaches and mentors Honors students.

Brittney Chantele

Brittney Chantele is a singer-songwriter, visual artist, speaker, and activist who uses a combination of art and action to inspire people to create positive change.

Brittney’s life as a queer, bi-racial, non-binary individual who grew up in a small town and served in the Army National Guard has given her a very personal understanding of injustice.

From witnessing, and sometimes being subjected to, injustice such as racism, sexism, and sexual assault, homophobia, and xenophobia, these experiences became a turning point that gave her two options: say nothing, or do something.

Hear Brittney’s album, “The Golden Opportunity,” on Spotify, which Brittney wants to turn into a full length play or short film.

You can also learn more about Brittney’s work at: https://linktr.ee/brittneychantele

Aryanna Wagner

At the age of 18 and answering the call of her nation, Aryanna Wagner enlisted with the United States Army just weeks after the terror attacks of 9/11 and served with the XVIII Airborne Corp on the frontlines during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, an MBA, and a master’s degree in Public Administration, Aryanna is now pursuing her Ph.D. in Community Engagement at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Currently, Aryanna is the Director in the Office of Veterans Services for the University of Pittsburgh and the Co-Founder of What A Veteran Looks Like – a nonprofit that serves and advocates for the minority veteran populations. She resides in Murrysville, PA, with her three children: Donovan, Camryn, and Atlee, and her husband, Lee Wagner.

Joel Laudenslager

Joel Laudenslager is a Marine in the USMCR having served in Combat Operations in Iraq (2008) and Afghanistan (2010), and 15 years of experience. In his civilian career, he was the Co-Founder of Pittsburgh Mission Continues chapter and No One Left Behind Pittsburgh. Currently, Joel is a Vice President in Operations at BNY Mellon.

Jack Merchant

Jack Merchant is a former Army combat medic who served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970. He spent most of his time serving with the Montagnard forces. In civilian life, Jack served as a mental health nurse specializing in forensic nursing. He enjoys telling stories of his Vietnam experience to those who want to hear.

Blair J. Mickles

Blair J. Mickles is an 11.5-year Army veteran from Rankin, PA. She is a full-time graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) and a Master’s in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) with a major in Human Security. She currently fills her free time as a volunteer firefighter of 18 years, community service with various veteran organizations, mentoring teens and young adults (at-risk and immigrant/refugee), while also serving as an assistant director of the Women’s March on Washington-Pittsburgh.

Tony Bennae Richard

Tony Bennae Richard is a change agent and disabled veteran who served in the United States Navy for twenty-four years as a hospital corpsman, Medical Service Corps Officer, and internal organization development consultant for Navy Medicine. While he likes writing poetry, flying kites, and playing his trumpet with loud music so he sounds better, his favorite pastime is being with his beautiful family in Nolensville, TN.

Bonnie Robinson

Bonnie Robinson is a retired Air Force veteran (21 years served). She is a Gulf War veteran and was also deployed in support of Operation Deny Flight for the Bosnia Conflict. Bonnie earned her MBA prior to retiring.

You can watch Bonnie marching in the Allied Forces Day Parade in West Berlin, Germany in 1987 and in the Fourth of July Parade in Berlin in 1987 (Bonnie can be seen at the 50-minute mark).

Robert Skwaryk

Robert Skwaryk served in Vietnam, Lebanon, and Desert Storm. In 2002, he was awarded a fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in theater/scriptworks. Currently, he is a film student at Community College of Allegheny County, for which his PSA for Veterans Crisis Hotline was done as a class assignment. His YouTube channel, Trip Trey Productions, has more videos including a short film, “Mia's Lovely Day.”

Carl Truss

Carl Truss is a Vietnam War veteran and the executive producer, director, cameraman, and editor of The Veterans Channel, hosted by Diane Richard – seen on YouTube, PCTV and VTVN.TV.