The annual celebration was held on Saturday, Veterans Day, at the Naval Operations Support Center, located on the Pittsburgh Air Force Reserve Station in Coraopolis/Moon area. Corporate sponsors BNY Mellon, ATI Technologies, and FEDEX Ground provided the entire event cost free to the attending military personnel and their guests. Mr. Rocky Bleier, STEELER and Vietnam veteran, served as the master of ceremonies. Proceeds of the raffle baskets were donated to the Heroes Supporting Heroes’ military families holiday program.
CORPORATE WARRIOR AWARD:
FEDEX Ground was announced as the 2017 recipient of the Fort Pitt Chapter’s Corporate Warrior Leader Award. The award is presented to a corporation who has demonstrated leadership in the Pittsburgh Military Community, via its commitment to supporting and empowering their own veteran employees, as well as their support and service to the local military community. The award, an engraved US Army officer’s saber with scabbard mounted on a display stand.
Presenting the award was Mr. Richard Harshman, President and CEO of Allegheny Technologies Corporation, the 2016 recipient. 2015 recipient Mr. Ian Steward, President of BNY Mellon, joined him. Accepting on behalf of FEDEX Ground was Mr. Henry J. Maier, Director of Human Resources. FEDEX Ground is located in Coraopolis.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AND SERVICE AWARD:
Captain Pauline Bozdech-Veater, USN (retired) was recognized for her more than 30 years of service in the US Navy and as a volunteer in the region’s Navy League, Military Affairs Council, Tuskegee Airman Memorial Board, and many other veteran and professional organizations.
As a public health nutritionist, CAPT Bozdech-Veater work with hospitals in East St Louis, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Kentucky Bureau of Health Services. She was also an interim director of Continuing Education for Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
A graduate of the Naval War College, she has the Defense Superior Service Medal and Legion Merit, along with the many other earned military awards and decorations.
