PMSC AmeriCorps member, Staff Sergeant Joshua Lee, USAF, retired, is very familiar with what it means to get things done to bring out the best of America. It is no surprise that he is highly valued and appreciated at his host service site, Portage Area Elementary School. His service as a PMSC education-based AmeriCorps member, pouring into the lives of 5th and 6th graders at Portage, may seem like an unlikely post-military position. But as Lee stated in the moments following today’s Portage Area Elementary Veteran’s Day Celebration program, “it just fits.” In fact, each year over 15,000 United States military veterans serve across America as AmeriCorps members–“applying the skills they acquired in the military to respond to disasters, build homes, mentor youth, support other veterans, and more” (AmeriCorps.gov).
Over 50 Veterans joined in today’s celebration at PAES, and Mr. Lee was honored in a special way during the festivities. The school’s Assistant Principal, Ms. Kelly Mignogna, proudly introduced the Retired Airforce Staff Sergeant who served 5 years as a Range Imagery Analyst where “he created and mapped targets for surveillance and destruction.” Students in grades Kindergarten through 6th cheered and encouraged Mr. Lee who is most obviously adored as a special mentor and math interventionist by the students and staff of the school.
The morning was filled with poignant moments as Kindergartners and 1st graders led the audience in bold proclamation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and second graders brought the crowd to tears as they sang the Star Spangled Banner. Audience members of all ages could hear a proverbial pin drop as the upper elementary students shared their special affirmations for the Veterans in their lives–thanking Moms, Dads, Paps, Uncles, Aunts, special friends, and community members for their service to our nation and for “taking care of all of us and keeping us safe,” as one 4th grader shared.
Leading with service and sacrifice, Joshua Lee bravely served his nation as an Airforce Staff Sergeant in Iraq and Afghanistan. And now, he is on the front lines in a different way. He is on a new mission to tackle our region’s most pressing challenges in education, and he is effecting positive change in Portage, PA and beyond as a Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps AmeriCorps member. There is no doubt that Mr. Lee models a life of service and sacrifice. He came to get things done in a major way for Pennsylvania and for America, putting the needs of others at the forefront of his life’s mission.
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