Mercer, PA– The State Correctional Institution at Mercer today announced the first of its kind American Legion Post that has been established inside a state correctional facility in Pennsylvania.
Tammy McGranahan, manager of the Veterans Service Unit (VSU) at SCI Mercer, was joined by Department of Corrections Acting Secretary George Little, Acting Regional Deputy Secretary Laruel Harry, SCI Mercer Superintendent Mindy Adams, and others at the American Legion of Pennsylvania's executive committee meeting in Harrisburg in July to officially recognize formation of the post. The committee presented DOC leadership with the Edward T. Hoak Award, reserved for the "most progressive new post" each year.
"This means so much to the incarcerated veterans who live on the VSU at SCI Mercer," said McGranahan. "It is an opportunity for the men to be part of something bigger than themselves; to have a sense of purpose and belonging."
The post opened with 33 initial members and is named for Sergeant Robert J. Fike of SCI Albion. Sergeant Fike also served as a sergeant first class with the PA Army National Guard. He was killed in the line of duty in Zabul, Afghanistan on June 11, 2010. He had been part of the 28th Military Police Company for 16 years.
The DOC currently has five regional VSUs. They are located at SCI Dallas (Eastern), SCI Houtzdale (Central), SCI Mercer (Western), SCI Phoenix (Eastern) and SCI Muncy (Central). For more information, visit the DOC website.
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