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Penn State Health honors Veterans Day on Nov. 11

November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, a time to acknowledge and honor the duty and sacrifices made by our service members and their families. Penn State Health values the contributions of military and veteran employees, more than 280 of whom have self-identified as protected veterans.

On Saturday, Nov. 11, the health system will honor those who serve in the military by sharing some of their stories and lighting Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s iconic Crescent for Veterans Day. The Crescent will be illuminated red, white and blue with intermittent shades of green to support Operation Greenlight for Veterans.

Employees may also show their support of veterans by downloading and using a virtual background for their Teams and Zoom meetings. The background is available from the Digital StoreFront in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category. In addition, staff are encouraged to send a note of affirmation to fellow employees who have served in the military. Messages sent to diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu will be collected until the end of November to be shared in December.

Employees can honor veterans in other ways, including:

  • Participating in a local Veterans Day celebration such as:
    • Penn State Harrisburg (Middletown) from 11 a.m.­­ to 1:30 p.m. at Vartan Plaza, outside of the library
    • Enola at 2 p.m. at Caption Leon Lock Veterans Memorial
  • Visit Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia for the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11

In addition, our military and veteran employees may be eligible to receive discounts from a variety of retailers. for those who have served. Locally, the National Civil War Museum will offer free admission for veterans, active-duty military service members and military retirees from 10 a.m.­ to 4 p.m. on Veterans Day that will include a band, Civil War-era games and the Harrisburg African American Quilters.

The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Penn State Health aims to find impactful ways to support veterans and military service personnel. As a step toward meeting this goal, the health system has established military and veteran business and employee resource groups in the Dauphin, West Shore, Berks, Lebanon and Lancaster regions. These groups collaborate in recruitment efforts to increase representation of veteran and military personnel in the workforce and to advance strategies that creates a more inclusive and respectful environment for our veteran and military affiliated employees.

These military veteran groups are always looking for more employees to participate and provide input. For more information or to share issues or concerns affecting the military and veteran community, contact Jude McCrea, the health system’s diverse employee engagement program manager, at jmccrea1@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-3088.

Upcoming event

Thursday, Nov. 16, 7­­ p.m. to 8:15 p.m.: Cultivating Health Empowerment Circumstances Facing Military personnel and Veterans

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