February 5, 2021

During the holidays, we take time to remember those who hold special places in our hearts, such as the military personnel who help keep our country free and safe year-round. Here’s a look at two special holiday efforts supporting our troops.

The FirstEnergy Foundation donated $5,000 to Wreaths Across America for three federal cemeteries: Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, Pa.; Grafton National Cemetery in Grafton, W.Va.; and Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville, Ohio. The money was divided between the three locations.

Employees from Met-Ed’s Stroudsburg, York, Reading, Hamburg and Lebanon service centers – along with a few corporate employees – volunteered at the Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. The group unloaded a total of 40,500 wreaths that were placed on gravestones. They toughed it out through unfavorable weather conditions and managed to complete the job safe

Libby Durr, consultant, Regional External Affairs (l.), and Debi Coplin, supervisor, Regional Operations Substations, Mon Power, met at the Wreaths Across America event at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton. Joining them are Debi’s husband, Jay, a retired Mon Power employee, and their grandchildren Aubrey, Jax and Aurora. Libby is treasurer of the Woodburn Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and Debi is a member of our Veterans and Allies EBRG.

Marni Watkins, Customer QA specialist, New Castle, and her father, retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Fred J. Fair, volunteered at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville, Pa., where 14,000 wreaths were laid at headstones. According to Marni, her father attended the dedication of the cemetery years ago.

The FirstEnergy Foundation donated $15,000 to the Trees for Troops campaign to help make the holidays brighter for service men and women and their families stationed at military bases across the U.S. This is the second year that FirstEnergy has provided financial support or employee volunteers to assist with the program. “Supporting our communities and giving back to those who serve our country is a priority for FirstEnergy,” said Troy Rhoades, consultant, Regional External Affairs, and a co-chair of our Veterans and Allies EBRG. “We’re proud to partner with Trees for Troops to bring a festive spirit and joy to the brave men and women who may be far from home during the holidays.”

Soldiers unload the donated trees at Fort Drum in New York.