Ted Potts
tpotts@tribdem.com
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The fifth Community Response Symposium concentrating on the needs of servicemen and women returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan regions will be held Aug. 18 at Hiram G. Andrews Center on Goucher Street in Upper Yoder Township.
It is being presented by Pennsylvania Disabled Veterans Rehabilitation/ Vocational Retraining Project, which is an outgrowth of Veteran Community Initiatives, headquartered at the Andrews Center. Tom Caulfield is VCI director and coordinator of the rehabilitation/vocational retraining project.
VCI provides job-search assistance and career counseling for military veterans and their families.
Sponsors of the daylong symposium are VCI, Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Andrews Center, University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology and the Center of Excellence for Remote & Medically Under Served Areas (CERMUSA) at St. Francis University, Loretto.
Don Rullman, director of the Andrews Center, and Caulfield will offer opening remarks at 8 a.m. and introduce Rory Cooper of Pitt’s Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology as master of ceremonies.
A tribute to John Murtha video will be shown at 8:10 a.m. The late congressman, who died in February, played a key role in starting the symposiums, Caulfield said.
Joyce Murtha, his widow, and John Hugya, a retired Marine Corps colonel and longtime aide to Murtha, have been invited to offer remarks.
U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, Murtha’s successor, will offer introductory remarks at 8:25 a.m.
The symposium is aimed at military veterans and their families, employers, educators, community leaders, vocational rehabilitation professionals, medical and mental-health practitioners, veterans service organizations, law-enforcement officials and others interested in the needs of returning veterans, Caulfield said.
Cost to attend is $50 per person, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch and refreshment breaks. The registration deadline is Friday. The fee will be waived for veterans who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan regions who register for the symposium, Caulfield noted.
Speakers and their topics are as follows:
• Brig. Gen. William B. Gamble, Surgeon General’s office, care of wounded, injured or ill servicemen and women and how communities can help; 8:55 a.m.
• Col. John Wing, flight surgeon/Army National Guard surgeon consultant, and Lt. Col. Doug Etter, executive officer, Office of Deputy Adjutant General, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; 9:35 a.m.
• Scott Cox, career coordinator for the Army Wounded Warrior Program, Army Wounded Warrior Support Services and Community Involvement; 10:15 a.m.
• Ann M. Rairigh, University of Pittsburgh programs for veterans; 11:10 a.m.
• Retired Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, private consultant and former executive director, Vision Regeneration Center, University of Pittsburgh, vision regeneration and rehabilitation; 11:50 a.m.
• Lunch. Attendees will have opportunities to network with colleagues and tour the nearby Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, 12:30 p.m.
• Al Mercer, executive director, Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, Veterans Court and homeless veterans programs; 1:30 p.m.
• Tony Bennett, Altoona’s James E. Van Zandt Veterans Administration Medical Center director, center programs and initiatives; 2 p.m.
• Troy Van Scoyoc, interim director of Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, the center’s Johnstown Experience; 2:30 p.m.
• Barbara J. Duryea, Conemaugh Hospital/Washington & Jefferson College Combat Stress Intervention Program, and Caulfield, local veteran initiatives, 3 p.m.
