Scranton, PA - Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity joined veterans, local leaders, Friends of the Forgotten North East Wing, and members of the community today to celebrate Women's History Month and honor the life and sacrifice of Carol Ann Drazba, who was killed in a helicopter crash while traveling for rest and recuperation leave on Feb. 18, 1966, during the Vietnam War.

"2nd Lt. Carol Ann Drazba, and her fellow nurses who volunteered to serve our country and go to Vietnam, held the hands of young men who were frightened, wounded, and far from their families. They provided hope while soldiers healed and dignity and compassion in their final moments - today we honor their memories and the legacies that they left behind."

Drazba, of Dunmore, studied nursing at the former Scranton State General Hospital School of Nursing and felt a deep calling to serve others. During her junior year, she joined the Army Student Nurse Program, committing to serve as a nurse in the Army for two years.

She was first sent to Fort Huachuca in Arizona before being deployed to Vietnam in October 1965. There she spent months caring for wounded American servicemen enlisted in the war.

Friends of the Forgotten were instrumental in the construction and installation of a memorial of Drazba that stands outside the Gino J. Merli Veterans' Center, where today's ceremony was held.

"Carol's legacy was a labor of love and respect. Keeping her memory alive is a true gift to future generations to understand her strength, courage, and sacrifice."

"It's fitting that Carol's memorial stands outside a facility dedicated to caring for our veterans. Just as she cared for our soldiers on the front lines in Vietnam, this memorial ensures that her compassion, courage, and sacrifice will never be forgotten."

Garrity also highlighted one of the most meaningful parts of her role as state treasurer, returning lost or forgotten military decorations through Treasury's unclaimed property program.

"These medals represent courage, sacrifice, and service to our country and are priceless pieces of family history, and we will never stop working to reunite them with the Veterans who earned them and their families."

Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has returned 548 military decorations, including 13 Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, and one Gold Star Medal.

To learn more about unclaimed property and military decoration returns, visit https://www.patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/

Media contacts:
Steve Chizmar, Deputy Treasurer for Communications, [email protected] or
Jake S. Sarwar, Deputy Press Secretary, [email protected]