Pennsylvania Military and Veterans Affairs Hall of Fame Welcomes Two New Inductees

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs today inducted Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery and Pennsylvania Senator Lisa Baker into its Hall of Fame, recognizing their exceptional service to veterans, the military and the nation.

McCaffery, of Philadelphia, has been instrumental in the creation of "Veterans Courts" across Pennsylvania, which assist veterans charged with non-violent crimes who are struggling with addiction, mental illness or co-occurring disorders and come in contact with the criminal justice system. He also co-chairs the Veterans Justice Statewide Task Force.

"His dedication and hard work is responsible for Pennsylvania having the largest and most successful veterans court program across the nation and has set the standard for other states to follow," said Maj. Gen. Wesley E. Craig, the state's adjutant general. "We are indebted to him for his tireless work on the behalf of veterans."

McCaffery served 40 years in the military beginning with his enlistment in the Marine Corps in 1968 and ending with his retirement from the Air Force Reserve in 2008. He is an honorary board member of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee, the Liberty USO, and the USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.

He is a graduate of LaSalle University and received his Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law.

Baker, of Lehman Township, Luzerne County, is serving her second term representing the 20th Senatorial District, which includes parts of Luzerne, Monroe, and Susquehanna counties and all of Pike, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.

"Her outstanding devotion to Pennsylvania's veterans is evidenced by her work to secure funding for veterans outreach and support programs and her efforts to establish the Pennsylvania Veterans Trust Fund to help needy veterans and their families," Craig said. "She has also advanced numerous bills to assist our deployed servicemen and women and veteran-owned businesses."

Baker chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee from 2007-2014. She currently chairs the Labor and Industry committee and is a member of the Aging and Youth, Appropriations, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Public Health and Welfare, and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees.

She is a graduate of Dallas High School and Shippensburg University where she received a bachelor's degree in government administration.

The DMVA Hall of Fame, established in 1998, recognizes unique and exemplary contributions to the department and the Pennsylvania National Guard. This award not only recognizes significant achievements, but also the honor and prestige an individual has brought upon the department, the Pennsylvania National Guard and Pennsylvania veterans. It is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the department.

For more information about the DMVA, visit us online at www.dmva.state.pa.us or follow us at www.facebook.com/padmva or www.twitter.com/padmva.  

Media contact: Joan Nissley, 717-861-8720

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

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