Washington County commissioners adopt several March proclamations, honor volunteers and veterans

The Washington County Board of Commissioners on March 6 adopted proclamations recognizing March 2025 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month, proclaimed March 29, 2025, as Vietnam Veterans Day, declared March 16–20, 2025, as 4‑H Week in Washington County, and presented certificates and a bench dedication to local volunteers.

The proclamations cite national and local statistics and call for community engagement. Commissioner Electra Janice read the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month proclamation, which states that "more than 8,380,000 Americans live with an intellectual or developmental disability" and notes that Washington County serves 7,302 children, adolescents and adults through intellectual disabilities and autism services. Jennifer Scott, administrator of behavioral health, and Sheila Fulton, intellectual disability and autism director, accepted that proclamation and thanked providers, families and support coordinators. "Without everyone who was mentioned, we would not be able to ensure that all of our individuals live in everyday life," Scott said.

The board also adopted a Vietnam Veterans Day proclamation marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and urging citizens to remember service members and those still unaccounted for. Commissioner Larry Maci, who led the reading, noted the county lost 67 service members during the war and asked veterans in the room to stand for recognition. Doctor Bobby Thompson, director of Veterans Affairs, accepted that proclamation.

On bleeding disorders, Michael Perry, who accepted the Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month proclamation with family members present, described local advocacy and fundraising efforts. "According to the CDC, 1 in 100 people have a bleeding disorder," Perry said, and urged continued work on treatment access and public awareness.

The board recognized Pennsylvania 4‑H Week; Clarissa Christ, Washington County 4‑H program coordinator with Penn State Extension, described 4‑H programming countywide and introduced youth members who spoke about livestock projects, robotics and leadership. Parker Gardner, a 4‑H member, noted exhibition successes at county and state agricultural shows.

Commissioners presented a certificate of appreciation and a commemorative bench to Fern Seabrick, founder of the volunteer group Clean and Tidy, which repurposes collected plastic bottle caps into benches, picnic tables and garden items. Seabrick said it takes "200 pounds of bottle caps to make one bench" and that the group collected 22,000 pounds of caps used to produce benches and tables. She also announced volunteer roadside cleanup dates on April 5 and April 12 (8–10 a.m.) and additional events on May 3 and May 17.

The proclamations and recognitions were adopted by roll call vote with all commissioners voting yes.

Why it matters: The proclamations formalize county support for awareness campaigns and local volunteer efforts, highlight service and advocacy organizations, and publicize upcoming community events and resources.

Upcoming: The intellectual disability and autism community will hold a public event April 23 at the Chartiers Houston Community Center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the proclamation noted. Clean and Tidy provided sign‑up information and dates for volunteer cleanups on the back table at the meeting.