7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. | Toretti Auditorium Live music, patriotic stories and honor for the men and women who have served our country proudly will be a part of the fourth annual Salute to Our Troops being sponsored by the Indiana Armstrong Patriots. The event will be held Saturday, October 20th from 7 to 9 P.M. at the Kovalchick Convention Center, 711 Pratt Drive, Indiana, PA 15705.
Upcoming musician and recording star, Krista Branch of Nashville, Tennessee, will showcase some of her music including a favorite, “I Am America.” Krista is a devoted wife, mother, patriot and a woman of deep faith.
Captain Sean Parnell, the keynote speaker and author of “Outlaw Platoon,” will no doubt make you even more proud of our young men and women in our military. Sean is a former U.S. Army airborne ranger who served in the legendary 10th Mountain Division for six years, retiring as a captain. He received two Bronze Stars (one for valor) and the Purple Heart. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Duquesne University. Sean lives with his wife and two children in Pittsburgh
Captain Jay Ostrich, one of our favorite speakers, will be sharing his thoughts on “Unapologetic for Angels.” As a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Jay enlisted in the United States Air Force and graduated boot camp at the age of 32. While deployed as a military public affairs specialist throughout the community, commonwealth, country and overseas most recently in Baghdad, Iraq, he has personalized the stories of soldiers and airmen fighting for our freedom and our way of life. He is currently a captain in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing, Middletown, PA, where he is the chief of public affairs.
J.D. Varner, a veteranwith a commanding voice, will be our emcee. He will be introducing Pastor Joyce Dix-Weiers, a military mother and pastor of two Armstrong County Lutheran churches who will be giving the invocation and Robert Fyock speaking on “Memories of a War” during the Vietnam era.
Retired Major General and Indiana County Commissioner Rod Ruddock will share how Indiana County is honoring our veterans through some special projects like the veterans homeless shelter.
“May No Soldier Go Unloved” is the motto of the national organization of Soldiers’ Angels dedicated to organizing volunteers to support our active duty troops by sending needed supplies, toiletry items, cards and letters, snacks, etc. Locally, we have a Soldiers’ Angels Project based at the St. Bernard’s Church. We will hear from one of the grateful soldiers via video as he presents “Packages from Strangers.”
The suggested donation of $5 per adult at the door will go to the Soldiers’ Angels Project for much needed supplies for the approaching winter in Afghanistan. This is the third year the Patriots have supported this much needed volunteer campaign.
The Patriots are grateful for the talents of the localIUP students involved in the presentation of colors by the IUP ROTC, the musical talent of Marissa Young as she plays Taps, and volunteers from the IUP College Republicans organization.
The doors open at 6 pm. Of special interest will be a collection of photos entitled “The Many Faces of Service to our Country” which will feature local family & friends of Patriot members who have served their country in the service.
Join with the Indiana Armstrong Patriots to Salute Our Troops!
Want to learn more?
Link to Sean Parnell’s website: http://www.commandposts.com/author/sean-parnell/
Link to Krista Branch’s website: http://www.kristabranch.com/videos
Indiana Armstrong Patriots: http://indianaarmstrongpatriots.com/site/
Soldiers’ Angels web site: http://www.soldiersangels.org/ |
