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In this Update:
Upcoming Senior Expo
There will also be refreshments, prizes, health screenings, flu and covid-19 vaccines, a prescription take-back on-site, and a senior SEPTA key card processing station. This is a great ‘one-stop shop’ opportunity for seniors and their families and caregivers to gather valuable information and meet face-to-face people in our area who can assist them with a wide range of services. Our staff will also be on site during the event to address any state-related issues or questions. Road Dedication in Honor of Captain Walter H. Sigafoos III
Please join Rep. Marcell and I on Friday, Sept. 18, at 10:30 a.m. at Addisville Church, 945 Second Street Pike in Richboro, for the dedication of a portion of Second Street Pike in honor of U.S. Air Force Capt. Walter H. Sigafoos III. Capt. Sigafoos and his pilot, Lt. Col. Jeffrey C. Lemon, were declared missing in action after a mission over Laos on April 25, 1971, during the Vietnam War. Connecting with Local Veterans
It was great to connect with local veterans at The Friends of Valor Golf Outing last week. This great community event brings together golfers, sponsors and community members to honor and support local and national heroes. Proceeds from the outing support programs like Victor Six, founded by Vietnam veteran David Christian, which works to improve the physical and mental well-being of veterans and reduce the risk of suicide in the veteran community. Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run
The Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), a non-profit organization is hosting several upcoming 5Ks throughout the U.S. in honor of the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, including one in Feasterville. It will be held on Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. starting at Russell E Elliot Memorial Park. Please visit their website for more information. The 9/11 Heroes Run 5K welcomes runners, ruckers, and walkers of all ages and fitness levels to honor the heroes of that day and those who stepped up to serve in the wars that followed. These annual events are critical to helping Americans fulfill a promise to never forget and share the significance of that day with future generations. Veterans Temporary Assistance ProgramThe Pennsylvania Department of Veterans Affairs (DMVA) administers the Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA) Program which provides temporary financial assistance up to $1,600 for necessities including food, shelter, fuel and clothing within a 12-month period to eligible veterans and their beneficiaries who reside in Pennsylvania. To be eligible, veterans must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, been honorably discharged after a period of active duty other than active duty for training, died in service or suffered a service-connected disability as certified by the U.S. Veterans’ Administration. The DMVA website lists the financial circumstances that qualify veterans for help via the VTA program. Veterans interested in applying for a VTA grant should contact the County Director of Veterans Affairs within the county they reside. New Law Connects Families with VA Burial Benefits
Under a new law, Act 42 of 2026, families of a deceased service person being buried or cremated in Pennsylvania after Sept. 18 will receive contact information for their county veterans affairs office from funeral directors and cemeteries. County directors of veterans affairs will also be notified by funeral directors and cemeteries within 96 hours of receiving the remains of a deceased service person. This will help connect families with this local veterans’ resource which will be able to help them access benefits for which they might be eligible. Shareapy Military
Shareapy offers free virtual peer support for active-duty military, veterans, first responders and their immediate family members. Once registered, you can:
There is no cost for eligible members. For more information and to sign up, click here. Tech Deals for Veterans
Remembering 9/11 25 Years Later
On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists highjacked four airliners on America’s east coast and turned them into deadly missiles, ultimately taking the lives of nearly 3,000 citizens in the name of Islamic fundamentalism. Filled with passengers, two of the planes were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and another into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth, perhaps destined to strike the White House or U.S. Capitol, was brought down in Somerset County by brave passengers who fought back. Twenty-five years later, we stand in remembrance of the attacks that changed our nation forever. May we always remember those nearly 3,000 lives lost and the families they left behind. May we honor the courage and sacrifice of the first responders and those civilians that became heroes running towards the danger. My hope is that we can come together as a nation as we did on the days that followed that unimaginable tragedy. New Law Connects Families with VA Burial Benefits
Under a new law, Act 42 of 2026, families of a deceased service person being buried or cremated in Pennsylvania after Sept. 18 will receive contact information for their county veterans affairs office from funeral directors and cemeteries. County directors of veterans affairs will also be notified by funeral directors and cemeteries within 96 hours of receiving the remains of a deceased service person. This will help connect families with this local veterans’ resource which will be able to help them access benefits for which they might be eligible. State Veterans Commission Meeting
The State Veterans Commission (SVC) will hold its next regular meeting on Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at Fort Indiantown Gap. The SVC advises the adjutant general and the DMVA on all matters pertaining to the status, welfare, benefits, employment and support of veterans and veterans’ programs in Pennsylvania. The public is welcome to attend either by phone or virtually.
$1.2 Billion in Infrastructure Improvements Approved by VA
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) approved $1.2 billion in VA infrastructure improvements which will be used by VA medical facilities to enhance operational capability and healthcare delivery for significant maintenance, replacements and upgrades. This includes funds to 42 projects for Pennsylvania’s VA medical facilities including replacing a roof in Coatesville, replacing domestic hot water tanks in Erie, renovating air conditioning in Lebanon, installing exterior security measures in Philadelphia, repairing fire and smoke dampers in Pittsburgh, replacing a fire station roof in Butler and more. VA Announces Clinical Trials to Help Veterans with Major Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder
The VA announced a new clinical trial to evaluate psilocybin’s effectiveness and safety in treating major depression in veterans. Psilocybin is a classic hallucinogen and produced by more than 100 species of mushrooms worldwide. The trial, Psilocybin Intervention for Veterans Overcoming Treatment-Resistant Depression, will enroll veterans with a diagnosis of treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and be conducted in five VA locations throughout the U.S., including Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia. This follows the VA’s announcement of a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of GLP-1 treatment for alcohol use disorder. This clinical trial, Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans, will be conducted in 18 locations throughout the U.S., including the Philadelphia VA Healthcare System. Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run
The Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) is a Pennsylvania-based, non-profit organization that provides programming, including Back to School Character Days, aimed to empower veterans and families of the fallen to develop character in future generations. The TMF is hosting several upcoming 5Ks throughout the U.S. in honor of 9/11, including these in the commonwealth:
Left, Right, Left 5K
The Veterans and Military Employee Resource Group of Piedmont Airlines is hosting the Left, Right, Left 5K on Sept. 16 starting at 9:15 a.m. at Harrisburg International Airport. All proceeds from the $25 per person entry fee will go to Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania to support a local village south of Harrisburg of 15 tiny homes surrounding a community center for homeless veterans. Shareapy Military
Shareapy offers free virtual peer support for active-duty military, veterans, first responders and their immediate family members. Once registered, you can:
There is no cost for eligible members. For more information and to sign up, click here. Tech Deals for Veterans
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