Press Release

Pennsylvania PUC Chairman DeFrank Reflects on Service, Sacrifice and National Unity Ahead of Memorial Day

Published on 5/22/2026

Filed under: Consumer Education Electric Gas Motor Carrier Pipeline Rails Telecommunications Transportation and Safety Water and Wastewater

DeFrank Honors Veterans, Public Service and the Lasting Meaning of Memorial Day During Public Meeting Remarks

HARRISBURG –Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Steve DeFrank reflected on the meaning of Memorial Day during remarks delivered at the Commission’s May public meeting, honoring the sacrifices of fallen service members while encouraging Pennsylvanians to reflect on the responsibilities that accompany the freedoms Americans enjoy today.

DeFrank noted that Memorial Day is more than the unofficial start of summer, calling the holiday “a reminder of real people, real families, and real sacrifices made in service to something larger than themselves.”

“Memorial Day reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy today came at an enormous cost,” DeFrank said. “Those freedoms are not abstract concepts. They include the freedom to speak openly, to disagree respectfully, to advocate for change, and to raise concerns when people feel unheard or overlooked. Honoring those freedoms does not require all of us to agree on every issue, but it does require us to continue seeing one another as fellow citizens who share responsibilities to each other and to the future of this country.”

DeFrank recognized the many veterans who are part of the broader PUC family, along with public servants across Pennsylvania and the nation who continue serving their communities in a variety of roles.

The Chairman also referenced the historic roots of Memorial Day in Pennsylvania, noting that one of the nation’s earliest “Decoration Day” observances is tied to Boalsburg during the Civil War era — where local residents gathered to honor fallen soldiers through simple acts of remembrance and compassion.

DeFrank reflected on the role Memorial Day played in helping the nation heal following the Civil War and expressed hope that Americans can continue striving toward understanding and common purpose during periods of division and uncertainty.

“I believe that spirit still exists today,” DeFrank said. “Not because we ignore our differences, but because we continue striving to find common purpose despite them.”

The Chairman concluded his remarks by encouraging Pennsylvanians to take time during the Memorial Day weekend to remember those who gave their lives in military service, support veterans and military families, and reflect on the responsibilities that accompany the freedoms Americans sometimes take for granted.

A video of the Chairman’s remark at the PUC’s May 21, 2026, public meeting, is available using the following link: https://vimeo.com/1194455375

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov
• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov