Message from the Adjutant General |
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Grieving Hard Losses, Welcoming Special Guests |
This month, we begin on a somber note. Our Pennsylvania National Guard family suffered the heartbreaking loss of two airmen from the 193rd Special Operations Wing in Middletown—Master Sgt. Elizabeth Lohrmann and Airman 1st Class Caleb Shaner—who died in unrelated accidents.
Losing members of our Guard is never easy. It reminds us that behind every uniform is a person who matters deeply—to our mission, to their teammates, and to their loved ones. We are proud of Elizabeth’s and Caleb’s service to our nation, and our thoughts and prayers remain with their families, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
Even as we grieve, our mission continues. This month I had the privilege of hosting Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Dovilė Šakalienė at Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG). We talked about strengthening Lithuanian–U.S. defense cooperation, cybersecurity, and continuing key strategic projects.
Our partnership with Lithuania goes back to 1993, and it remains one of the strongest in the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. Over the years, it has grown to include everything from developing Lithuania’s national division to training Black Hawk pilots and maintainers, conducting joint exercises, and sharing lessons in crisis management. I’m proud of the role Pennsylvania plays in this important relationship.
We also had some special visitors of a different kind—the West Point women’s volleyball team. The cadets came to FTIG for preseason training, and along with housing and training facilities, we made sure they had some military experiences too—including a ride in a Black Hawk helicopter. Hosting these future Army leaders was a real honor, and we’ll be cheering for them in the season ahead.
Looking forward, I’m excited to announce that during this year’s PA VetCon in Valley Forge (Oct. 22–25), DMVA will host a special summit on veteran suicide. This is one of the most pressing challenges facing our veteran community, and we’re bringing together experts, leaders, and families to talk about real solutions. The summit will also be livestreamed so the public can be part of the conversation. Please visit www.dmva.pa.gov for details.
As summer winds down, I hope yours has been both safe and enjoyable. Thank you for all you do every day in service to our commonwealth and our nation. I look forward to sharing more updates with you next month.
Major General John R. Pippy
Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA
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DMVA And PA Treasury Celebrated National Purple Heart Day With Lost Medal Presentation |
PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity celebrated National Purple Heart Day on Aug. 7, 2025, by returning a once lost Purple Heart and other service medals to the family of the late PFC Ray Alvin Morgan, who was wounded while serving in the Vietnam War. Accepting the medal for the family was Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) staffer James Morgan, who works in the Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption program... |
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Shapiro Administration Encourages Eligible Veterans In Need To Seek Financial Assistance Through Veterans Temporary Assistance Program |
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) offers financial assistance to veterans who are facing an unexpected financial hardship. The Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA) program provides eligible Pennsylvania veterans and their surviving dependents with financial relief of up to $1,600 per year for necessities such as food, shelter, fuel, and clothing... |
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101st Birthday Celebrated At Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home |
Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home resident June Marie Miskovish recently celebrated her 101st birthday. Miskovish is a Navy veteran who served during WWII. She was born on July 21, 1924 in Donegal, PA and graduated from Ramsay High School in Mount Pleasant, PA in 1943. Upon graduation, she enlisted in the U.S. Naval Service in 1944... |
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Orange Heart Medal Ceremony Held At Southwestern Veterans’ Center To Honor Nine Residents |
The Southwestern Veterans’ Center (SWVC) hosted an Orange Heart Medal Ceremony on July 18 to recognize and present nine Vietnam veterans with the medal. Agent Orange was first used by the U.S. military in Vietnam on August 10, 1961, and continued until 1971, as part of herbicidal warfare program to destroy plant life and food sources for enemy forces... |
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Talented Painters At Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center |
Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center GMVC) has a Paint and Sip program for their residents on the first Friday of every month. The residents enjoy painting while they are served beverages, snacks, and hors d’oeuvres. Their creations are left to dry overnight and then are delivered by the staff the following day to their respective rooms for display...
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Five Veterans At Hollidaysburg Veterans’ Home Receive Special Recognition On Purple Heart Day |
In honor of Purple Heart Day on Aug. 7, five veterans at Hollidaysburg Veterans’ Home received special recognition pins from the leadership team to recognize them as recipients of the Purple Heart medal. The Purple Heart, “the medal that nobody wants,” honors the strength and sacrifices of our military personnel who were wounded or killed in combat or by acts of terrorism... |
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Phillies Color Guard, Independence Day, 2025 |
On July 4, 2025, the nation celebrated the 249th anniversary of the adoption of the declaration of Independence at the Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia. It’s fitting that the Pennsylvania National Guard provided a color guard for a meeting between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds Major League baseball teams... |
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Seven PA Guardsmen Graduate From The U.S. Army War College |
Congratulations to our seven graduates of the United States Army War College! This two-year program not only challenges our soldiers academically, but teaches them much about time management. Our graduates are LTC Christopher Bowers, LTC Gregory Gobel, LTC Joseph Martinkis, COL Ellis Stokes, LTC Voci Bennett, and LTC Robert Cuthie. Special thank you to their families, employers, and units for their support! |
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Manheim Township Football Goes To Bootcamp With The PAARNG |
Soldiers with the PAARNG Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted a boot camp for the Manheim Township High School football team Aug. 8 at Fort. Indiantown Gap. The team got a small taste of Army Basic Combat Training while working in smaller groups on a variety of challenges at the Leadership Reaction Course and conducting conditioning drills. |
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ESGR Pittsburgh Bosslift and Employers Luncheon |
The Pittsburgh Bosslift showcased the refueling capabilities of the 171st Air Refueling Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in coordination with the 911th Airlift Wing Air Reserve unit out of Pittsburgh... |
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POTUS In Pittsburgh -- 171st ARW |
Guardsmen from the 171st Air Refueling Wing recently had the honor of greeting the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, as he arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport – a moment that was certainly unforgettable... |
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Maj. Gen. Pippy Delivers Oath Of Enlistment At PNC Park – 171st ARW |
New recruits to the Pennsylvania National Guard recently gave their oath of enlistment from right field at PNC Park. The oath was delivered by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John R. Pippy, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The Pittsburgh Pirates honored veterans, currently serving service members, and those enlisting into the armed forces during a military appreciation event before the baseball game... |
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Philadelphia Eagles Host Tri-State Troops – 111th ATKW |
Guardsmen from the 111th Attack Wing recently got to meet players of the Philadelphia Eagles at the NovaCare Complex. In collaboration with USO’s across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, the Eagles welcomed military personnel from every branch of the military to training camp for a day of gratitude... |
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One Team. One Mission. |
Here at the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) we are one team, with one mission. |
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GTKU - Veterans Homes - Pennsylvania Soldiers' And Sailors' Home (PSSH) |
Our “Get to Know Us” video series heads to Erie this week! The Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home is one of our six long-term care facilities, dedicated to serving veterans and their spouses… and it’s the longest serving state veterans home in PA! |
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Army West Point Academy - Women's Volleyball |
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the West Point Women’s Volleyball Team for spending camp week with us here at Fort Indiantown Gap. It was an absolute honor to host such a dedicated, disciplined, and inspiring group of athletes.
A special thank you as well for the volleyball clinic you held for young girls in our community. Your willingness to share your time, skills, and passion for the game left a lasting impact and inspired a new generation of players. |
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KSCA Cadets Rappel into Military Day! |
Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy cadets had the opportunity to spend a day at the rappel tower located at Fort Indiantown Gap. More than 80 cadets rappelled down the 60-foot wall, challenging their fears while negotiating the obstacle. This was a great event for team building as the cadets cheered on their fellow platoon members who were a bit anxious at first as they started over the edge... |
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Lickdale Veterans' Outreach Center And Fort Indiantown Gap Tours Showcase Pennsylvania’s Commitment To Service |
The Lickdale Veterans’ Outreach Center and Fort Indiantown Gap have been opening their doors to the community through a series of guided tours, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the people, programs, and facilities that embody Pennsylvania’s dedication to its service members, veterans, and their families...
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Area 4 Complex Construction Is Underway! |
Construction has begun on a new Multi-Purpose Auditorium in Area 4 with state capital funds. This is the first of three buildings planned for an Area 4 upgrade for unit readiness. The Multi-Purpose Auditorium will be a 16,000+ square foot building with classrooms for units to utilize for instruction and briefings and is expected to be completed in fiscal year 2027... |
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