[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14357]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING MR. PATRICK J. SOLANO AS THE COMMONWEALTH MEDICAL COLLEGE'S 
           2016 SCHOLARSHIP GALA SERVICE TO COMMUNITY HONOREE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Mr. 
Patrick J. Solano as The Commonwealth Medical College's 2016 
Scholarship Gala Service to Community Honoree. Each year the 
Commonwealth Medical College honors an outstanding individual or group 
for contributions to their community, and Mr. Solano's extensive record 
of public service exemplifies the meaning of this award.
  After graduating from Pittston Township High School, Mr. Solano 
joined the Army Air Corps and took part in 23 combat missions. 
Stationed with the 8th U.S. Air Force Heavy Bombardment Group in 
England, his missions spanned several European nations and included 
action during the bombing of Berlin in 1944. His exceptional service 
earned him the Group Presidential Citation, the Air Force Medal with 
two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the European Combat Theatre Medal with two 
Bronze Stars.
  Being honored for service to his community reflects Mr. Solano's 
commitment to the advancement of Pennsylvania's people and resources, 
and his lifelong public service sets an example for future generations 
of selfless Pennsylvanians. After serving as a Pittston Township school 
director, he went on to later advise State Senate Majority Leader 
Dominic Pileggi, as well as two governors, Tom Ridge and Mark 
Schweiker. His most important contributions came during his role as 
deputy secretary for Parks and Forests with the former Department of 
Environmental Resources and as the acting secretary when the Department 
of Conservation and Natural Resources was created in 1995. Mr. Solano's 
lifelong dedication to Pennsylvania's state parks and forests will 
forever be remembered, and in 2013, my district was proud to have 
Governor Tom Corbett recognize his service by naming the environmental 
education facility at Frances Slocum State Park, located in Luzerne 
County, as ``The Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center.''
  Mr. Speaker, as The Commonwealth Medical College's 2016 Scholarship 
Gala Service to Community Honoree, Mr. Patrick J. Solano has 
consistently set an example of excellence that will inspire our state's 
leaders for generation to come. I wish Mr. Solano, his wife of 62 
years, Marie Nocito, their six daughters, eleven grandchildren, and one 
great grandchild, all the best in their future endeavors, and thank him 
for the innumerable contributions he has made to the state of 
Pennsylvania.

                          ____________________