Pennsylvania adds three holidays to the calendar to honor veterans, emergency responders

Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War and Global War on Terrorism as well as emergency responders now have a day set aside on the calendar in Pennsylvania where their service and sacrifice is recognized.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed into law a bill that designates March 6 as Persian Gulf Veterans Day; Oct. 7 as Global War on Terrorism Veterans Day; and Sept. 27 as First Responders Day.

The measure requires the governor annually to issue proclamation for each of those holidays and encourage public schools and educational institutions to participate in exercises in observance of them.

It also specifically bars schools from closing school on First Responders Day.

York County Republicans Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill and Rep. Seth Grove offered companion bills in their respective chamber to designate the two holidays in remembrance of the more than 2.5 million veterans who served in the two most recent conflicts and the more than 6,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice in those wars, including 324 Pennsylvanians.

In her comments to promote the bill, Phillips-Hill credited Spring Grove resident Sgt. Harold Redding, a 22-year U.S. Army veteran, as the inspiration for the bill. She said he wanted to ensure these veterans’ service is not forgotten.

Redding also was the genesis for a federal law sponsored by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., to recognize March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

Rep. David Maloney, R-Berks County, championed the effort to add a similar recognition for emergency responders. In a statement, he said nearly all Pennsylvanians have benefited from the service of police, fire, emergency medical service and public health personnel or know someone who has.

“Some of them are paid, but in Pennsylvania most are not,” Maloney said. “Whether they are paid or not, these men and women choose to do very difficult jobs – jobs most of us shy away from.”

This law takes effect immediately.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

©2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.