Potomac Edison Buildings Go Green to Support Local Veterans
With the days growing darker after the shift to daylight savings, a vibrant green glow recently illuminated all Potomac Edison offices in Maryland and West Virginia as employees exited, symbolizing more than just the end of the workday.
The glow reflects the company’s participation in Operation Green Light, an effort designed to raise awareness of issues facing our veterans and to thank them for their service during the second week of November.
View photos of FirstEnergy veterans participating in the Operation Green Light effort.
Operation Green Light is an educational opportunity for the public to learn more about military culture, suicide prevention and things veterans want people to know about their service and transition from military to civilian culture. The initiative is committed to providing support services for veterans, service members and their families and to making sure no one is left behind.
“I’ve seen how much this effort means not only to local veterans, but also to the communities we serve, and that makes it so worthwhile,” said Don McGettigan, acting president of FirstEnergy’s Maryland operations. “The visual impact of illuminating our service centers in vibrant green lights is very powerful and shows how much our Potomac Edison employees support and appreciate the veterans who live and work in our service territory.”
FirstEnergy employs more than 950 past and present servicemembers of the United States’ armed forces. The company believes the experiences and skills obtained through military service align with its core values.
Among the local veteran employees honored was Mike Ketterman, a meter reader at Potomac Edison who said he appreciates the support the company shows veterans year-round.
“Potomac Edison is the first company I’ve worked for that commemorates Veterans Day by giving its employees the day off,” he said. “That sort of thing is usually reserved for state and federal agencies, and it shows how much FirstEnergy cares about recognizing the men and women who sacrificed for our county.”
FirstEnergy and its electric companies have long championed veterans in the workplace and the communities they serve. In addition to supporting veteran organizations, like Trees for Troops and Wreaths Across America, FirstEnergy has also been designated as a Military Friendly® Company by Military Friendly, a national organization supporting the U.S. military and its veterans.
FirstEnergy’s employees have also established a companywide Veterans and Allies Employee Business Resource Group with several local chapters to positively influence veterans both inside and outside the company. Since its inception, Veterans and Allies has raised more than $100,000 for organizations that support active military and veterans, organized donation events for active military members overseas and veterans at local veterans' hospitals and volunteered with many organizations that directly and indirectly impact veterans.
Learn more about FirstEnergy's commitment to active-duty and military veterans, at firstenergycorp.com/careers/military.html.
MEDIA CONTACT: Hannah Catlett, (440) 554-5346