By TED POTTS
JOHNSTOWN — Veteran Community Initiatives has named Jack Wagner, Pennsylvania auditor general, as its 2009 veteran of the year.
Wagner, who resides in suburban Pittsburgh, served in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1968, receiving a Purple Heart and other commendations for his actions while in Vietnam.
He will receive his honor at VCI’s Salute to Veterans dinner at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown.
U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, will deliver the keynote address.
Murtha, a Marine Corps veteran, will be honored for his 35 years in Congress, said Tom Caulfield, VCI president/director, who said the congressman’s efforts on behalf of the military and its veterans will be singled out.
Murtha and former Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum were instrumental in establishing the Veterans Leadership Program/Veteran Community Initiatives effort in Greater Johnstown in 1993.
VCI offices are at 727 Goucher St. in Upper Yoder Township.
Also at the dinner, Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, Pennsylvania adjutant general, will formally induct Murtha into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs’ Hall of Fame at Indiantown Gap.
Caulfield said Wagner has been an advocate for veterans as auditor general.
He said the auditor general’s office conducted a special performance audit that began in 2008 that found 25 state agencies had filled 569 jobs without considering eligible military veterans despite the fact state law requires veterans be given employment preference.
Wagner’s findings suggested 19 pro-veteran recommendations be implemented to correct the deficiencies and also said the next appointee to the Civil Service Commission should be a military veteran.
Lt. Col. John Kovac, commander of the 1st of the 104th Aviation Attack Reconnaissance Battalion based at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, will conduct a live feed from Iraq featuring several local troops.
Recipient of the 2009 Military Member of the Year honor will be announced at the dinner, Caulfield said.
