Keystone Today

Approximately 1,100 new state employees with prior or current military service have recently been honored by state leaders.

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

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

Since the campaign was created in 2020, approximately 17,000 state employees have been given a lapel pin depicting the U.S. flag and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania flag, representing their dual-service status.

“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.”