WHAT’S NEWS IN WEST MIFFLIN
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid West Mifflin Quartermaster
Gary Ruston, left, and Commander Jake Bradich proudly stand in front
of their unit’s sign on the Thompson Run Athletic Association building.
The veterans service organization has earned the title of All State Post
for the third time in the past five years. Photo by Michael P. Mauer.
WEST MIFFLIN
RECRUITS FOR
VETERANS’ VOICES
The Borough of West Mifflin is
recruiting military veterans to participate
in the community’s Veterans’ Voices
project.
Done as a collaborative effort by Mayor
Chris Kelly and Veterans of Foreign Wars
Post 914 Intrepid West Mifflin, the venture
involves making videos of local veterans
that highlight their military service. The
recordings will then be linked to the West
Mifflin borough website.
“Much like the commemorative
banner program here, we’re looking to
preserve and honor military service by our
citizens,” said Kelly. “The positive efforts
of self-sacrifice should be acknowledged,
recorded and available as an example for
citizens of our borough, both young and
old alike.”
West Mifflin Area High School graduate
and VFW Post 914 Commander Jake
Bradich, an Iraq War veteran, agreed.
“All who served in the military know
what is means to put service above self,”
said Bradich. “This kind of commitment
doesn’t just go away once somebody leaves
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the military. That is also one of the reasons
why our post here has been so successful,
and our borough continues to be a great
place to live, work and raise a family.”
The Veterans’ Voices project is open
to all honorably discharged military
veterans who live, work or participate
in community service in West Mifflin.
Participants do not have to be a member
of VFW Post 914.
Contributors will be video-recorded
at the borough administrative offices
on Lebanon Road. Participants should
be prepared for a three- to five-minute
narrative explaining their military service,
and how their experiences helped prepare
them to be good citizens.
Those interested in participating
should contact Andy Quayle, West Mifflin
Borough IT Coordinator, at 412.466.8170.
MON VALLEY VFW
EARNS THIRD ALL-
STATE HONORS AWARD
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914
Intrepid West Mifflin has earned the title
of All State Post for the third time in the
last five years.
Post Commander Jake Bradich and
Quartermaster Gary Ruston each received
a commendation noting the achievement.
The two veterans will also be awarded
distinctive white hats to note their
accomplishment. But the VFW Post
Intrepid commander is quick to point out
that the All State honor is a team effort.
To be selected as an All State Post,
Bradich and the other VFW Post 914
members had to accomplish a long list
of service-oriented goals outlined by the
Commonwealth’s VFW headquarters.
Last year, less than 15 percent of
Pennsylvania’s approximately 450 VFW
Posts were feted during the Department
of PA VFW’s state convention for earning
the title of All State Post.
Examples of these good works include
supporting student scholarship programs,
visiting hospitalized veterans, and
participating in fundraising to assist the
VFW’s network of service officers.
Over the past two-and-a-half decades,
VFW Post 914 has also regularly
participated in ceremonies in the
Borough of West Mifflin for Memorial
Day, Veterans Day and Patriots Day.
Additionally, its honor guard and rifle
team have flown the colors and fired
salutes at the annual openings of youth
league sporting events.