Lehigh Times

Pennsylvania state leaders recently honored nearly 1,100 new state employees who had prior or current military service.

The recipients were honored during the yearly Pennsylvania State Employee Military Service Recognition Campaign, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

“Now on the final stretch of my administration and reflecting on my time in office, I am proud to say that I have worked side-by-side with so many men and women who served both our country and the commonwealth,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in the release. “These are all special people who have a strong drive for protecting and improving the lives of others. They should all proudly wear the lapel pin in recognition of their selfless service.”

Since the campaign was created in 2020, about 17,000 state employees have been given a lapel pin depicting our country’s flag and the commonwealth flag representing their dual-service status.

“Only about 7% of all Pennsylvanians have served in the military. It is a small number of people, but they have had an enormous impact on the lives of 13 million Pennsylvanians,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “They are all truly deserving of this special recognition of their dual service and their commitment to the commonwealth.”

Employees eligible for program participation served in the country’s military in some capacity, along with the Coast Guard and Space Force.