1. Pennsylvania was the first state to recognize Veterans Day

On November 11, 1953, a small ceremony was held in Emporium, Pennsylvania to honor veterans of all wars. This event was organized by a man named Joe Allison, who was a World War I veteran, and a local priest named Father Francis L. Sampson. The ceremony, which included a parade, a wreath-laying ceremony, and a seven-gun salute, was the first official Veterans Day celebration in the United States. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill into law making Veterans Day a national holiday.

2. The last World War I veteran to die was from Pennsylvania

Frank Buckles, who was born in Bethany, Missouri, but lived most of his life in Charles Town, West Virginia, was the last living American veteran of World War I. He died on February 27, 2011, at the age of 110. However, one of the last surviving Canadian veterans of World War I, John Babcock, also died in 2010 at the age of 109, having been born in the United States.

3. Pennsylvania has a long history of military service

Pennsylvania has a long and proud history of military service, dating back to the American Revolution. Approximately 360,000 Pennsylvanians served in the Civil War, and almost 3,000 Pennsylvanians were killed or wounded at Gettysburg alone. During the two World Wars, more than 480,000 Pennsylvanians served, and almost 34,000 made the ultimate sacrifice.

4. The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the oldest in the country

The Pennsylvania National Guard can trace its origins back to the colonial era, when militia units were organized to defend the colony against Native American attacks. The Pennsylvania Militia played a crucial role in the American Revolution, and the Pennsylvania National Guard has fought in every war in which the United States has been engaged since the Civil War.

5. Pennsylvania is home to the United States Army War College

The United States Army War College is located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and is one of the premier institutions for military education in the world. The college was founded in 1901, and its mission is to educate and develop leaders who are capable of critical thinking, strategic planning, and decision-making in a complex and uncertain global environment. The college offers a wide range of courses and programs, including the prestigious Master of Strategic Studies program.