Staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) recently participated at Pennsylvania State Rep. Richard Irvin’s 2026 Senior Expo at Smithfield Fire Hall. The event attracted approximately 300 attendees and featured more than 40 vendors offering information and services to seniors in the community.

The DMVA representatives engaged with 45 veterans and family members, providing guidance on accessing both federal VA benefits and the many state veterans benefits available through Pennsylvania. The team made approximately 65 referrals to help connect attendees with vital support services.

A highlight of the day was the presentation of 50th anniversary Vietnam Veterans lapel pins and certificates, provided by DMVA staff. Although the 50th anniversary observances concluded in 2025, many rural veterans were unaware of this milestone and had not yet received their pin. Irvin personally pinned four Vietnam-era veterans in attendance, who were especially grateful for the recognition.

Events like the Senior Expo play an important role in connecting Pennsylvania’s veterans with the benefits they’ve earned. The DMVA remains dedicated to serving those who served our nation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ (DMVA) Region Three Outreach Team, which covers central Pennsylvania, is assisting military-affiliated individuals and families in Adams County as a member of the county’s Veterans Advocate Network (VAN).

Launched in 2022, VAN gives professionals, advocates and those with lived military service experience a dedicated space to network, understand the array of services and programs available to veterans and their families, identify unmet needs and collaborate on potential solutions to address those needs.

This collaborative group meets quarterly and includes representation from federal, state and county government as well as numerous veteran-centric nonprofits and various community-based organizations. The strength of VAN is directly related to its members and their dedication to serving both veterans and active service members. Work groups within VAN focus on topics like resource awareness, wellness and food access. Their efforts include the successful creation of the Gettysburg MilitaryShare, a monthly food distribution that has provided free supplemental food to veteran households in need.

“I’m proud of the efforts of all members of our outreach team, who work tirelessly to connect veterans with resources available in their respective communities,” said Susan Meighen, chief, Division of Outreach. “This is just one example of the great work they do.”

 
The DMVA’s outreach teams are part of PA VETConnect, which determines the needs of veterans and their beneficiaries, finds suitable resources and connects veterans with them.

The Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home (DVVH) held its annual volunteer luncheon for volunteers and members from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society and other organizations. Their support and sponsorships make the residents’ monthly trips and activities possible throughout the year. Their contributions may not always be visible, but the impact is felt in every act of service that is carried out in our home.

Thank you, volunteers, for a job well done!

On May 15, ceremonies were held at the Hollidaysburg Veterans’ Home (HVH) to celebrate Armed Forces Day. Recognized annually the third Saturday of May, Armed Forces Day honors current active-duty service members of all six branches of the United States military: Army; Navy; Marine Corps; Air Force; Space Force; Coast Guard.

 
Residents, staff and guests enjoyed learning about the history of Armed Forces Day, and were treated to a reception with cake and refreshments.

Military community engagement is a way the Pennsylvania National Guard (PANG) displays its commitment, professionalism and patriotism to the public. These engagements put our soldiers and airmen in the local communities, often giving people a chance to get a close look at our equipment and talk to our service members, fostering a high level of trust that is at the very base of military service.

These engagements come in many forms. They can be vehicles or equipment static displays, with subject matter experts that can speak to the capabilities our equipment offers. They can be speakers, offering personal reflections on historical events or words of inspiration for a graduating class of cadets. Our soldiers also perform artillery salutes and color guards honoring the service of those that came before. Our pilots perform both aviation static displays and flyovers, demonstrating our significant air power.

The Military Community Engagement program is a way for the PANG to have positive interactions with the public and allows the public a behind-the-curtain view of what it means to serve. These interactions build trust and confidence that our soldiers and airmen are well trained and discipled, ready to respond to domestic emergencies or overseas contingencies and helps forge the desire to service for the next generation.

The Keystone State Challenge Academy (KSCA) is a program, not a school. There are eight core components to the program; one of which, is academic excellence. The partnership between KSCA and the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) continues to create robust, targeted and meaningful academic opportunities for the cadets. The CAIU teachers are highly qualified, Pennsylvania certified teachers in math, language arts, science, social studies and special education. Through the support of the highly dedicated teaching staff, cadets receive individualized instruction, academic intervention, general educational development (GED) preparation, credit recovery to successfully return to their home school district and guidance toward post-secondary success.

Oversight and support of the teaching staff comes from Dr. John Thompson, lead educator, who works closely with the KSCA staff on behalf of all cadets, and Dr. Andrea Saia, executive director, CAIU, who has been a strong KSCA advocate since its inception. A strong example of this commitment is Josh Danna, KSCA math teacher and recent recipient of the Teacher of the Cycle award. This class also supported a cadet enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP ) Statistics, marking the first AP course completed by a cadet. KSCA academic excellence success highlights include: