October 12, 2009
NORRISTOWN, PA– Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) celebrated Columbus Day by speaking at the Christopher Columbus monument in Norristown borough. The event is an annual celebration of “discovery” in which attendees remind themselves of how they can go beyond what people expect of them and, through their efforts, lead to successes that they thoughts were impossible.
“This monument is here because of the perseverance, determination and commitment of the citizens who dedicated themselves to building and maintaining the structure,” said Congressman Sestak. “These values continue to define our nation as we look to discover what the 21st century holds for America.”
The monument was first envisioned in 1926 and built in 1984. It was recently repaired with the help of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Community Service Program, a program in which criminal offenders do community service as part of their sentence. Since the construction of the monument in the eighties, it has received special acclaim for its uniqueness from the Spanish and Italian consulates.
Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, the Congressman was the first Director of Deep Blue, the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the Global War on Terrorism. He served as President Clintons Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. According to the office of the House Historian, Congressman Sestak is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
Media Contact:
Jonathon Dworkin
jonathon.dworkin@mail.house.gov
610-892-8623