"We're looking for real leadership in Congress, the kind of leadership that heroes like Phil Avillo will bring to keep the faith with those who have served and to fight for the kind of change that will strengthen our nation." PA Vets Chairman says.
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Pennsylvania Veterans for Obama today endorsed Phil Avillo for Congress in the 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, according to an announcement by Mark Harrison, Chairman of the highly organized and influential state-wide veterans organization.
"Dr. Avillo has served our nation as a proven leader on the battlefield and as an historian in the college classroom, and we proudly join many thousands of veterans in supporting his candidacy for Congress in the 19th Congressional District. " Harrison said today.
"PA Veterans for Obama is calling upon military veterans, their families and friends in York, Adams and Cumberland counties, across Central PA, and throughout Pennsylvania to work hard to elect Phil Avillo for Congress and Barack Obama as President of the United States. " Harrison added.
"We believe that the Avillo - Obama ticket will do the best job to support the more than one million Pennsylvania veterans who have served or are now serving our country. Dr. Avillo and Sen. Obama bring the kind of commitment to change that strengthens America that every citizen can believe in and be proud of," he added.
Dr. Avillo graciously accepted the important endorsement at his home in York today. "I am gratified and humbled that my brothers and sisters in arms have honored me with their support. As the campaign here in the 19th District unfolds, I look forward to aggressively advocating Sen. Obama's G.I Bill reform measures, and I can assure you, in Congress, I will work even harder for the kind of fundamental change in direction Sen. Obama will bring to Washington." He added.
"Sen. Obama's record on strengthening American security speaks for itself." Avillo said. "Sen. Obama was right about the invasion of Iraq. He was right about the incredible waste of life and treasury during the occupation of Iraq. He is right about standing down now in a measured fashion. He is right about increasing troop strength in Afghanistan. He is right about pursuing known al-Qaeda and Taliban targets in Pakistan. Sen. Obama is clearly the right President and Commander in Chief for a stronger America right now." Dr. Avillo added. "And I look forward to working with President Barack Obama to break up the wasteful and debilitating log jam in Washington D.C. when I'm in Congress."
Vet Chairman Mark Harrison said that supporting Avillo for Congress means the organizational strength, voter registration and fund-raising efforts generated by the Pennsylvania Veterans for Obama will now flow into York, Adams, and Cumberland counties.
"We will add veteran training teams across the district in support of Phil Avillo." Harrison said. "We will work to increase voter registration and door to door canvassing on behalf of Dr. Avillo. And we will sponsor a special G.I. Bill Tour, addressing pressing veterans issues, in York, Gettysburg, Camp Hill, and other locations in the district." He noted. "We are confident that Phil Avillo will be the next Congressman from the 19th District, and that will mean a new and better direction for the citizens of those counties."
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About Phil Avillo
Avillo, who enlisted in the US Marines at age 17, served as a Marine officer in Vietnam where he was awarded the Purple Heart for a wound which resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. He later obtained a Ph.D. in history from the University of Arizona.
He was elected for three terms to the York Suburban School Board, serving 7 of them as President. For over two decades he coached his community's young people in baseball, basketball, and soccer and the men's lacrosse teams at the University of Arizona and York College. He has also served on the Boards of the York Symphony and the York Suburban Dollars for Scholars program. At York College he has been President of the Academic Senate, was twice selected by students to deliver the Winter Commencement address, was twice named Teacher of the Year by the Student Senate, and received the York College Alumna's Professional Service and Recognition Award. For more information or a comment, contact Mr. Avillo at 717-781-9820 or info@avillo08.com .
About PA Veterans for Obama
Mark Harrison was the Central PA VFO Director during the Primary, and is now state chairman. He is a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, like his father, and was assigned to the state dept under a peacekeeping force between Israel and Egypt, Multi-national Force & Observers Sinai, and discharged honorably from Army as a Medical Section Sergeant. He is currently a nurse at Holy Spirit Hospital with Bachelor's degree.
Contacts:
Phil Avillo
info@avillo08.com
Avillo for Congress (Avillo08)
2536 Eastern Blvd.
Box 436
York, PA 17402
717-781-9820
Mark Harrison
Veterans for Obama
401 N. 2nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105
717-648-7663
dcpavets4obama@yahoo.com
Bob Philbin
media@avillo08.com
717-975-2148
