For the last three years, Erie News Now has honored veterans and their families every Thursday night. It's stories of service and sacrifice. This week we feature the journey of retired Major Joe Pfadt.

PennWest Edinboro is honoring Joe Pfadt with its Distinguished Alumni Award. He earned three degrees at Edinboro University and his doctorate at Gannon University.

He taught social studies at Harbor Creek High School from 1992 until his retirement in 2019.

Pfadt founded Warriors to Washington in 2013 to honor veterans from the Erie region who were deployed and served in the U.S. Armed Forces as a result of the attack on 9/11.

Pfadt retired from the military in 2014 after 30 years of service to the U.S. Army National Guard and a deployment to Kosovo in 2003-2004.

Retired Major Pfadt is Executive Director and CEO of the Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard, which seeks to bring a Perry-class frigate to Erie's waterfront.