HARRISBURG, Pa. –
The Pennsylvania National Guard held its annual “Guard Day at the Capitol” here Sept. 20 to showcase the mission and capabilities of the Pennsylvania National Guard to state legislators, staff and visitors.
House and Senate resolutions proclaimed Sept. 20, 2022, to be Pennsylvania National Guard and Veterans Day in Pennsylvania.
This year’s theme is “Together We Serve,” highlighting the close cooperation among the Pa. Guard, the Pa. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and other state agencies.
The event, the first since 2019, serves as an opportunity for Pennsylvania National Guard leadership and members to inform and interact with state lawmakers, whose decisions impact them on a daily basis.
The day began with a breakfast meeting with Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general, other Pennsylvania National Guard senior staff, and dozens of legislators and staff. Schindler thanked the legislators for their role in supporting the Pennsylvania National Guard and talked about the positive role the Guard and the play in the Commonwealth.
Schindler recognized 30 Guard members and DMVA employees for their extraordinary service to veterans and citizens across the commonwealth and nation.
“It is with great pride that we honor these dedicated men and women for leading by example and demonstrating our agency’s values of integrity, selfless service, diversity, courage and respect,” said Schindler. “Together, we serve our communities, our commonwealth and our country – a heavy lift for many, but one our agency excels at because of special people like those recognized today.”
The 30 individuals recognized for their extraordinary service are:
Pennsylvania Air National Guard
Senior Airman Joey Cotto, Etters, York County; Staff Sgt. Julinda Karamuca-Garcia, Brooklyn, NY; Master Sgt. Katrina M. Wetzel, Ashland, Schuylkill County
Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Staff Sgt. Dana Battersby, Lykens, Dauphin County; Staff Sgt. Courtney Lee Burgard, Sunbury, Northumberland County; Sgt. 1st Class Marcos Figueroa, Gilbertsville, Montgomery County; Maj. Mantas Kazakevicius, Vilnius, Lithuania; Sgt. John Marra, Thorndale, Chester County; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tara Lynn Raine, New Cumberland, York County; Sgt. Taneya Rivera, Kutztown, Berks County; Staff Sgt. Maria Guadalupe Suarez-Moya, Arendtsville, Adams County; Capt. Brandon Sweeney, Womelsdorf, Berks County; and Sgt. Justin William Wright, Reinholds, Lancaster County.
Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Oumie Bojang, Harrisburg, Dauphin County; Loria A. Buffington, Tower City, Schuylkill County; Tiffany Jo Cleary, Pine Grove, Schuylkill County; Rocco Connors, Weatherly, Carbon County; Mary Anne Dibbins, Duncansville, Blair County; Todd Alan Eakin, Lebanon, Lebanon County; Craig Herring, Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County; Jeffery E. King, Carlisle, Cumberland County; Lisa Lehman, Fredericksburg, Lebanon County; Jeremiah Mensah, Sinking Spring, Berks County; Melanie Ann Morris, Harrisburg, Dauphin County; Deborah Olivieri, Levittown, Bucks County; Cheryl L. Reigle, Hummelstown, Dauphin County; Bhuvana Shanmugam, Hershey, Dauphin County; Timothy Jay Snyder, Jonestown, Lebanon County; Trudi Stankinas, Pine Grove, Schuylkill County; Justin Strouphauer, Muir, Schuylkill County.
Guard members representing a variety of units and functions of the Pennsylvania National Guard spent the morning setting up colorful visual displays in the rotunda. Knowledgeable Soldiers and Airmen explained to curious legislators, staff and visitors their unique roles in the 18,000-member force, the second largest Guard in the nation.
Guard Day at the Capitol highlights the close relationship between members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Commonwealth’s elected leaders.