One of the region's veterans will be named the winner of the inaugural First Class Patriot Achievement Award at the Saluting Service celebration Tuesday at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland.
23 of Western Pennsylvania's veterans have been nominated for the honor. The award, created and presented by the Financial Planning Association of Pittsburgh (FPA), serves to acknowledge past or present community service by Western Pennsylvania veterans of any U.S. military branch.
Ruth Forsyth, president of Pittsburgh's FPA chapter, said this is the first year for the award.
"We were looking to give back to the community, and once we starting focusing on veterans, and trying to get connected with the veterans population in our area, we were very pleasantly surprised and impressed with how many of the veterans we were speaking to were still very actively involved," Forsyth said.
The FPA will present a $10,000 donation to the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania to honor the winner.
Veterans throughout the 27 counties of western Pennsylvania are eligible. The nominees are natives of Allegheny, Armstrong, and Westmoreland counties, three of whom are residents of Pittsburgh.
The program, which begins at 6:00 PM, honors all service men and women with entertainment from the Trinity Jazz Orchestra and American Idol semi-finalist Adam Brock. Admission to the Saluting Service ceremony is free, but reservations are required at the Pittsburgh Chapter FPA websiteor 412-653-1054.
