[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 25, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PAT SOLANO, 2013 ATTORNEY JOSEPH SAPORITO SR. GREATER PITTSTON LIFETIME 
                        OF SERVICE AWARD WINNER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 25, 2014

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Pat Solano, the recipient 
of the 2013 Attorney Joseph Saporito Sr. Greater Pittston Lifetime of 
Service Award.
  Mr. Solano was born on June 22, 1925 in Pittston Township, 
Pennsylvania. In 1942, he graduated from Pittston Township High School 
and immediately joined the U.S. Army Air Corp. During World War II, Mr. 
Solano flew 23 combat missions over Germany with the Eighth U.S. Army 
Corp Heavy Bombardment Group. For his service, he received the Group 
Presidential Citation, the Air Force Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, 
and the European Combat Theatre Medal with two Bronze Stars. Once home 
from the war, Mr. Solano met and married his wife Marie, and they had 
six daughters.
  After serving in the Army, Mr. Solano dedicated his life to public 
service, beginning as the assistant police chief for Pittston Township. 
In 1950, he became the Third District Republican Chairman, and later 
was named the County Republican Chairman in 1968. He also served two 
terms as a member of the Pittston Township School Board. Since 1969, 
Mr. Solano has worked for and advised ten Pennsylvania governors from 
both sides of the aisle. In 2002, he retired after 40 years of federal 
service.
  Mr. Solano's dedication to Pennsylvania does not end with his work. 
He was a member of the Pittston Township Bicentennial Committee, 
Assistant Scout Master for Troop 212 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel 
Church, 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus, the Columbus League of Luzerne 
County, Pittston Memorial Library fundraising co-chairman, and Luzerne 
County Community College trustee.
  For his commitment to improving Pennsylvania, Mr. Solano has received 
many accolades and awards. He was honored by the Pennsylvania 
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, an agency he helped 
start 20 years ago. He also received the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber 
of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Pennsylvania 
Environmental Council's Thomas P. Shelbourne Environmental Leadership 
Award, a Doctor of Humane Letters from Misericordia University, and the 
United States Army Corps of Engineers Commander's Award.
  Mr. Speaker, Pat Solano has shown outstanding dedication to our 
nation, the state of Pennsylvania, and his local community. Therefore, 
I commend him for his service and receipt of the 2013 Attorney Joseph 
Saporito Sr. Greater Pittston Lifetime of Service Award, and wish him 
the best in his future endeavors.

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