[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 26, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF PATRICK J. SOLANO FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2014

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Patrick J. Solano 
for his lifelong commitment to public service. For his distinguished 
civic career, Mr. Solano has been selected as the recipient of the 2013 
Attorney Joseph Saporito, Sr., Greater Pittston Lifetime of Service 
Award.
  During World War II, Mr. Solano served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. 
While in the military, he completed 23 combat missions over Germany 
with the Eighth U.S. Army Air Corps Heavy Bombardment Group. For his 
exemplary service to our nation, Mr. Solano was awarded the Group 
Presidential Citation, the Air Force Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, 
and the European Combat Theatre Medal with two Bronze Stars.
  Upon his retirement from military service, Mr. Solano dedicated 
himself to serving both his community and the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Solano has been an integral part of the civic 
leadership of Greater Pittston. He has served on dozens of local 
committees, boards and organizations including the Pittston Township 
Bicentennial Committee. Since 1969, Mr. Solano has also held numerous 
positions in the state government and worked with ten Pennsylvania 
governors. He served as the acting secretary of the Pennsylvania 
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources when it was first 
established and was recently honored by that agency for his dedication 
to Pennsylvania's state parks and forests.
  Mr. Solano has received numerous other awards, including the Greater 
Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award and the 
United States Army Corps of Engineers Commander's Award.
  I would like to thank Mr. Solano for his years of civic service on 
behalf of northeastern Pennsylvania and the entire Commonwealth. I am 
moved by his dedication and leadership, as I'm sure many others are. It 
is my pleasure to recognize his work, and I am certain that his 
dedication to our state will continue.

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