Franklin County Salutes Its Active Military, Veterans In May

Pictured (from left): Franklin County Commissioner John Flannery; Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst; Franklin County Veterans Affairs Director Justin Slep; and Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Franklin County Commissioners have proclaimed May 2024 to be Military Appreciation Month and are encouraging residents to honor the commitment and sacrifice made by current, former and fallen members of all branches of the U.S. armed forces.

Military Appreciation Month serves as a reminder of the important role U.S. armed forces have played in the history and development of the United States. Several observances throughout May - including Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, VE Day and Military Spouse Appreciation Day - give Americans an opportunity to value, recognize and honor the service and sacrifices made by all members of the U.S. military and their loved ones.

Nearly 1.3 million Americans are currently serving as active personnel in the U.S. armed forces. That includes many of those employed locally at Letterkenny Army Depot, which marks 82 years of serving the U.S. military in 2024. Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the U.S. for the highest number of veterans, and Franklin County is home to more than 13,000 veterans.

"Although Military Appreciation Month is officially recognized in May, we celebrate our veterans and active military personnel every day," said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. "Our servicemen and women and their families have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, so it's incumbent upon us to show our support and give back to them in any way we can as a small token of our appreciation."

The Franklin County Office of Veterans Affairs is dedicated to serving the needs of veterans and their families through benefit coordination, advocacy and outreach. One of those outreach efforts is Franklin County MilitaryShare, which provides free, fresh, nutritious food once a month to Franklin County families with at least one member who has served or is serving in the armed forces.

Other outreach efforts include the Operation Save-A-Vet, Save-A-Pet service dog program; Operation Rucks to Reins, an equine-assisted therapy program; Focus Photography; and the annual "We Salute You" scholarship for high school seniors, among other services. The department's newest program offers veterans free weekly shuttle service to veterans affairs facilities in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Martinsburg, West Virginia, thanks to a partnership with rabbittransit.

Franklin County Veterans Affairs will host its eighth annual Veterans Affairs Golf Tournament, set for Aug. 30 at Penn National Golf Club, Fayetteville. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Franklin County Veterans Affairs Outreach Fund and the outreach programs, all of which are funded through community donations. The 2023 tournament raised a record $69,042.11to benefit programs and other services for area veterans.

For more information on Franklin County Veterans Affairs outreach efforts, services or the outreach fund, contact the Franklin County Office of Veterans Affairs at 717-263-4326 or visit https://bit.ly/FCVeterans.

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