​PA Vetcon 2024, An Event for Veteran Advocates  

The inaugural PA VetCon, held Sept. 4-6, 2024 in Pittsburgh, brought together advocates and leaders from across Pennsylvania to focus on improving services for the commonwealth’s more than 700,000 veterans. Pennsylvania has the fourth largest veteran population in the country.  

The event, which featured panel discussions on pressing issues such as homelessness, employment, and mental health, was lauded as a major success in fostering collaboration among veteran service organizations; federal, state, and county agencies; and community-based organizations. 

Brig. Gen. (PA) Maureen Weigl, deputy adjutant General for Veterans Affairs, emphasized the importance of this gathering. 

“The success of PA VetCon truly reflects the strength of our communities as we come together to serve those who have served,” she said. It’s more than just a conference —it’s about ensuring that we’re united in our efforts to support veterans across the commonwealth.” 

Weigl said that the event embodied the adjutant general’s mantra of “Together We Serve,” focusing on building partnerships to tackle the key challenges veterans face.   

Governor Josh Shapiro’s keynote address and the participation of various federal and state leaders helped set a collaborative tone for the event, which is expected to have a lasting impact on the state’s approach to veteran services.