News & Releases

On November 11, beginning at 11:30am, LifeWorks Erie will be hosting a Veterans Luncheon to honor veterans. This Highmark sponsored event is free to veterans, $5 for non-veterans, and includes appetizers, lunch, dessert, and a patriotic program. Space is limited. Please contact Marie Heberlein at 453-5072 to pre-register.

On Friday, November 11, veterans and their families are invited to the Second Annual Veterans Appreciation Day, which will take place at the Presque Isle State Park Rotary Pavilion. An hour long Veterans Day Ceremony will begin at 10am, followed by activities from 11am to 2pm. Activities include fishing, letter writing, and Living History. Refreshments will be available from 11am to 1pm, and information tables will be set up from 11am to 2pm. The Big Green Screen film D-Day: Normandy 1944 tickets will be available for free beginning at 11am on a first come, first served basis at the Big Green Screen Theater. Senator Wiley is speaking briefly at the event. For more information, call 814-833-7424.

Embracing Our Veterans is having a calendar firearm raffle from Nov. 1 to Nov. 24. One winner will be determined each day by the PA Pick 3 Lottery Evening Drawing, and the Thanksgiving Day winner will win 2 guns. Tickets will continue to be sold throughout the month of November. Each ticket costs $20 and gives you a chance to win any of the 25 firearms scheduled to be raffled after the date of purchase. All proceeds benefit Embracing Our Veterans and their work to help local veterans. To purchase tickets or for more information, call Embracing Our Veterans Crawford (814) 450-0622 or Erie (814) 392-4937.

Mercyhurst University will be hosting a Veterans Tribute Weekend Nov. 11-12. All events will take place on the Erie campus and are free and open to the public. The Tribute Weekend begins with a Mission 22 event from 6-8pm on Friday. Saturday begins with family-friendly tailgate activities from 10-11:30am. There will also be a brunch free to veterans and their families who RSVP by Nov. 8. The Mercyhurst vs. Lock Haven football game will begin at noon and feature both pre-game and halftime ceremonies. For more information and to RSVP for the brunch, contact Dr. Morahan by phone at (814) 824-2909 or by email at kmorahan@mercyhurst.edu.

On Nov. 12 from 1-4pm, CareerLink, located at 255 Elm St in Oil City, will host a Veterans Appreciation Day. The event will feature a Meet and Greet with veterans service providers. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 814-678-5050.

On November 13, Church of the Cross, located at 5901 Millfair Rd in Fairview, will be serving a light lunch for all veterans who attend the service. Service begins at 10:00am.

On Sunday, November 6th from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., the Nuova Auroa Club at 1518 Walnut Street will be hosting a FREE spaghetti and meatball dinner for Veterans. This dinner is for VETS ONLY and does not include family members.

The Erie Philharmonic has generously donated tickets to the November 12 concert. Doors open at 7:00pm. Any veteran can receive one free ticket, but you MUST RSVP to receive the tickets. Guests can purchase additional tickets with 20% off. Please email or call in yours and your guest(s) first and last names. Tickets will be available at the Philharmonic box office Monday through Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm prior to the concert, or they can be picked up the day of the event at the gold kiosk outside the Warner Theater State Street entrance starting at 7:00pm. To RSVP or for more information, contact Erie County Veterans Affairs Director Thad Plasczynski by email at tplasczynski@eriecountypa.gov or by phone at (814) 451-6270.

The Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony will take place Saturday, November 5. The parade will kick off at 9:30am at the Veterans Stadium (26^th & State Street in Erie) marching south on State Street ending at the Erie VAMC. The ceremony begins at 11am at Jefferson School located directly across from the Erie VAMC on 38^th Street. All Veterans and community members are invited to attend the Veterans Day parade & Ceremony to celebrate our Veterans! All community agencies and organizations are invited to march in the Veterans Day Parade. Call Ken Sawdey at 814-866-9565 to sign up.

Organized Labor, United Way of Erie County, and HighMark are hosting their 3rd Annual Veterans Breakfast on Sunday, November 6th from 9am - 11:30am at the Polish Falcon Club in Erie, 431 E 3rd St. It is FREE to all veterans and their spouses. Please RSVP by November 2nd if interested so that they know how much food will be needed. For more information or to RSVP, contact one of the following:

Jack Lee, President of Erie-Crawford Central Labor Council, 814-455-4752
Mike Butler, Chairman, Erie-Crawford CLC Community Service, 814-881-9835, Email: eriecrawfordclc@aol.com
Ron Oliver, AFL-CIO Community Service Labor Liason, 814-860-1793, Email: ron@unitedwayerie.org