[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 48 (Monday, March 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E319-E320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF FRANK BALON, RECIPIENT OF THE FREELAND SONS OF ERIN 
                     2019 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 18, 2019

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Frank Balon, 
who was named the Freeland Sons of Erin 2019 Citizen of the Year. He 
was honored on Saturday, March 16, at the organization's annual St. 
Patrick's Day event.
  Frank is a graduate of Freeland High School and Pennsylvania State 
University. He worked as a mechanical engineer at Tobyhanna Army Depot 
before retiring after thirty years of service in 2013. During his 
tenure at Tobyhanna, Frank received the Department of the Army 
Achievement Medal for Civilian Service in both 1997 and 2002.
  Frank brings something unique to Northeastern Pennsylvania that is 
never in adequate supply: the joy of music. He plays trumpet in several 
local ensembles including the Freeland St. Ann's Band, where he also 
serves as band president, and the Hazleton Philharmonic Orchestra and 
Big Band. Frank is also the leader of the popular brass quintet, the 
Hot Tin Roof Brass Band. As part of his musical career, he has 
performed the national anthem for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 
and the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Triple-A baseball teams on many 
occasions, and he has additional appearances scheduled for the upcoming 
season. Frank's musical talents extend to singing as well. He is a 
choir member and cantor at Immaculate Conception

[[Page E320]]

Church and an officer and founding member of the Freeland Community 
Choir.
  Frank is diversely active in his community. He is a contributing 
writer for the monthly Progress Magazine, and he enjoys researching 
family history and genealogy. Frank enjoys hiking and is an avid 
outdoorsman. He also currently serves as the secretary for the Hazelton 
Archery Club.
  Stemming from his civilian employment with the United States Army at 
Tobyhanna Army Depot, Frank is dedicated to honoring and serving our 
veterans. He is part of the honor guard and a proud honorary member of 
American Legion Post 473 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5010. His 
community efforts were recognized by the Freeland American Legion Post 
when they named him Citizen of the Year in 2017.
  It is an honor to recognize an outstanding individual like Frank as 
he accepts the Citizen of the Year Award. I am grateful for his many 
talents and his willingness to serve the people of Northeastern 
Pennsylvania, especially veterans. I wish him the best this St. 
Patrick's Day.

                          ____________________