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A different kind of Veterans Day celebration

11/14/2016
Veterans Clinic outside Graterford

Law students Porscha Scott, Jennifer Willis and Michael Routh join Melvin Dill, a community advocate for incarcerated veterans, outside the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Graterford.

Student interns who work in the Veterans Law Clinic marked Veterans Day this year at a Pennsylvania program for incarcerated veterans.

The group traveled to the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Graterford with Clinic Director and Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Amber Baylor. Students spoke with veterans who are incarcerated in the Montgomery County facility, some of whom are clinic clients. They participated in a prison ceremony that honored deceased veterans. It was attended by prison veterans, their supporters, and community leaders. Representatives of all those constituencies spoke at the program.

The law students also heard about a bill in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that would provide post-conviction review for veterans who were suffering from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD, prior to their convictions.

Baylor said the day was enlightening and reflective for the law students, some of whom are planning to meet with the prison veterans’ group at a later date, to learn how the clinic might assist its efforts. 

“This was a unique way for our students to observe Veterans Day and I’m glad they had this experience,” Baylor said. “Veterans come from all walks of life, and many of them have returned from dangerous service assignments abroad and then committed crimes outside of the military. Today, our group stood with them so they knew no matter where their lives and choices have taken them, their service to our country will always be appreciated.”