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A Special Thank You to All Veterans

We set aside Veterans Day to acknowledge and celebrate our fellow citizens who answered the call to serve in the military, securing and defending freedom we enjoy year-round. We owe a debt of gratitude to veterans locally and across this great nation.

To all veterans, past and present, thank you for your service, your strength, and your steadfast commitment to protecting our great nation. We are forever grateful.

One way we show our appreciation is through the Veterans Trust Fund, which supports organizations that assist Pennsylvania veterans and their families in need of housing, financial help, food, training, recovery and more. Find out how you can donate to this fund here.

Federal Government Shutdown Veterans Program Update

Despite the federal government shutdown on Oct. 1^st, 2025, the following operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are functioning as normal:

• VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics and Vet Centers;
• VA benefits will also continue to be processed and delivered;
• Burials at VA national cemeteries, as well as processing of applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits;
• Board of Veterans’ Appeals;
• Call Centers; and
• Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services and caregiver support.

Operations which are unavailable due to the shutdown include:

• Transition program assistance and career counseling;
• GI Bill hotline and Memorial Products Applicant Assistance unit;
• VA benefits regional offices;
• Public Affairs and unfunded outreach to Veterans, including social media, VetResources emails and responses to press inquiries;
• Grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries;
• Processing of pre-need burial at VA cemeteries;
• Printing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates; and
• Outreach to state, county, tribal, municipal, faith-based and community-based partners by the VA Central Office.

Veterans Day Deals

Applebee’s Grill & Bar – Select entrees available for free lunch or dinner and a $5 gift card for a future visit within three weeks for veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day.

Chili’s – Select dine-in meals available for free to all veterans and active-duty military members on Nov. 11^th at participating Chili’s. Military ID is required.

Hershey’s Chocolate World (Dauphin County) – Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 7^th from 2 to 4 p.m. Military veterans can receive a 25% discount on retail purchases throughout Chocolate World when presenting a Military ID.

McCormick & Schmick’s (Allegheny & Philadelphia Counties) – Select entrees available for 50% off for U.S. veterans, active-duty military, and Gold Star parents and spouses on Nov. 9^th.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord & Gift Shop (Lancaster County) – 50% off any meal and 25% off gift shop items for veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day.

Ensuring U.S. and Pennsylvania Flags are Made in America

All Pennsylvania and U.S. flags purchased by the commonwealth for public display will be made in the United States under legislation approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 784, which requires the flags to be labeled with “Made in the USA”, was sent to the House of Representatives.

Expanding Eligibility for Free Hunting Licenses for Disabled Veterans

Legislation to expand eligibility for free Pennsylvania hunting licenses to veterans who are 100% disabled due to service-connected injuries outside of combat was recently introduced. Senate Bill 1020 provides discounted $1 hunting licenses to veterans who are partially disabled due to injuries incurred through training, non-combat operations, peacetime duties or other hazardous activities.

Lehigh Valley Chamber Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will host a Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11^th at 11 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest in the Kasych Family Pavilion at 1200 S. Cedar Crest Blvd in Allentown. The event will honor Lehigh Valley veterans and feature a keynote address from Dr. Baligh Yehia, president and executive vice president of Jefferson Health. Veterans who RSVP will receive an exclusive gift, and light refreshments will be served following the program.

Veteran Assistance Appointments

My office offers Veteran Assistance appointments with Brian Stolarski of the American Legion Department of Pennsylvania to offer assistance to veterans of the 40^th Senatorial District at both my Scotrun and Jefferson Township offices.

The Pennsylvania American Legion will be on site to assist veterans with issues including:

• COMPENSATION AND PENSION CLAIMS
• EDUCATION BENEFITS
• ENROLLMENT IN THE VA HEALTH SYSTEM
• BURIAL AND SURVIVOR BENEFITS
• STATE BENEFITS
• OBTAINING MILITARY PERSONNEL & MEDICAL RECORDS

To make an appointment with the American Legion for Veterans Benefits, you can call my offices at (570) 620-4326 or (570) 213-5705

Evergreen Elementary School Veterans Day Celebration

It was a wonderful way to kick-start my day last week at Evergreen Elementary School in Wayne County for their Veteran’s Day Appreciation Ceremony! Thank you to Western Wayne School District for making this a priority and instilling patriotism in your young students!

I had a few moments to join some veterans from Hamlin for coffee prior to the ceremony too!

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