Chip Minemyer
The Tribune-Democrat
ARLINGTON, Va. —
More than 300 lawmakers, military officials and business leaders gathered Wednesday night to pay tribute to the memory of the late John P. Murtha.
The event – “A Night To Remember and Celebrate” – raised $1.2 million for the John P. Murtha Foundation and the John P. Murtha Center for Public Service, to be developed on the Pitt-Johnstown campus.
The longtime congressman from Johnstown died in February.
“We all have special memories of Jack Murtha,” said MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, who served as master of ceremonies for the dinner and program, held at the Army Navy Country Club – just a few miles from the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.
Presenters included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Norm Dicks, who succeeded Murtha as chairman of the House defense appropriations committee; Mark Critz, who succeeded Murtha as representative of the 12th District; and Joyce Murtha, the late congressman’s widow.
“We are here to celebrate the man,” Pelosi said. “He was a force in our lives.”
Current and former lawmakers in attendance included Sen. Bob Casey; Rep. Joe Sestak, a Democratic candidate for the Senate; and longtime Blair County Republican Congressman Bud Shuster.
Numerous organizations made contributions to the Murtha Foundation.
Among them were:
N CTC Foundation on behalf of Concurrent Technologies Corp., $250,000.
N General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Mantech International Corp., Progeny Systems, all $100,000.
Others made contributions up to $50,000.
