Senator Mastriano

Senator Doug Mastriano Statement on the Tragic Loss of a Soldier at Letterkenny Army Depot

HARRISBURG – State Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33), Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee and senator representing the 33rd District, issued the following statement regarding the death of a U.S. Army soldier during a training incident Thursday morning at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg:

“Rebbie and I are truly heartbroken by the tragic loss of a soldier during a training incident at Letterkenny Army Depot today. Our hearts go out to this soldier’s family, loved ones, fellow soldiers, and the entire Letterkenny community who are grieving today.

After more than 30 years serving in the United States Army, news like this is deeply personal. Soldiers become family, and when one of our own is lost, the pain is felt across the entire military community. We know that behind every uniform is a family who shares in the sacrifice of service, and today our thoughts and prayers are especially with them.

This soldier answered the call to serve our nation with courage and dedication. That kind of selfless service deserves our deepest gratitude and our lasting remembrance.

The men and women who train and work at Letterkenny Army Depot carry out vital work every day to support our troops and defend our country. Rebbie and I stand with them and with this soldier’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: At the twilight of the Cold War, I stood among a sea of East German Trabant automobiles in Hof, West Germany. These little machines—affectionately called “Trabbys”—were the pride of the German Democratic Republic. Built from pressed composite panels instead of steel and powered by smoky two-stroke engines that sounded more like lawn equipment than automobiles, they were simple, stubborn, and unmistakable.

For decades, the Trabant represented mobility behind the Iron Curtain. Families waited years—sometimes more than a decade—to receive one. Yet in those historic days when the wall fell and the border opened, thousands of them streamed into West Germany, their buzzing engines announcing the arrival of a new era.

There I was, a young lieutenant, standing among rows of these unlikely symbols of freedom—cars that had carried their owners across a divide that had shaped the world for nearly half a century. What once symbolized restriction had suddenly become a convoy of liberation. #FlashbackFriday

March 13 - National K-9 Veteran Day

In the near future, we will introduce legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Emergency Medical Services system and ensure our EMS providers receive the support and recognition they deserve. Across the Commonwealth, EMS agencies continue to struggle with staffing shortages, administrative burdens, and a disciplinary system that too often leaves them without a fair path to resolution. At the same time, the Bureau of EMS has faced persistent challenges gaining the attention and resources it needs within the Department of Health.

This legislation takes three important steps within Title 35 (Health & Safety):

Recognizes the importance of EMS leadership by elevating the Bureau of EMS Director to Deputy Secretary status, ensuring EMS finally has a strong voice at the highest levels of the Department of Health.

Reforms the disciplinary process by establishing a fair and transparent appeals process for EMS agencies, giving providers due process while maintaining high standards of care.

Cuts red tape by creating a clear, consistent pathway for Emergency Medical Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians with lapsed certifications; permitting EMS Vehicle Operators to be trained in-person and on-site or in a digital format – and remove their continuing education credit requirement; removing the requirement that an Advanced Life Support ambulance be staffed with an EMS Vehicle Operator; and establishing an exception for staffing requirements when in a situation with limited EMS resources.

Our EMS professionals are the backbone of emergency response in every community. They deserve a system – top/down -- that works as hard for them as they work for us. This legislation is a meaningful step toward stability, accountability, and respect for the lifesaving work they perform every day.

Today we had the honor of presenting a citation recognizing Tim Ebersole for his dedicated service to the Chambersburg Fire Department.

For years, Tim answered the call when our community needed him most — protecting lives, serving his neighbors, and embodying the true spirit of public service.

Chambersburg is safer and stronger because of his commitment, courage, and leadership.
Please join me in thanking Tim for his years of service and wishing him the very best in a well-deserved retirement.

As we commemorate America250, we remember Abraham Baldwin — a Founding Father whose leadership helped shape the early United States.

Baldwin served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and signed the United States Constitution, helping to establish the framework of our nation’s government. He later became one of Georgia’s first U.S. Senators and played a key role in founding the University of Georgia, the first state-chartered university in the country.

His commitment to education, public service, and constitutional government reminds us that the strength of our republic is built on principled leadership and a dedication to the common good.

As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, we honor the legacy of leaders like Abraham Baldwin who helped lay the foundation of our nation.

America250 — Honoring the Past. Shaping the Future.

#America250 #AbrahamBaldwin #FoundingFathers #AmericanHistory #Constitution

Head on over to my stories and click on the link to check out my year in review!

https://senatormastriano.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/174/2026/03/Sen.-Doug-Mastriano-2025-Year-in-Review.pdf