Organization receives BCAP President’s Award at Annual Summit
NEWS RELEASE APRIL 28, 2023 Media Contact: Jennifer Algoe Keaton 717.214.2000 or 717.979.3986 jkeaton@bcapa.com
LANCASTER – To honor the selfless dedication of an organization devoted to serving Gold Star families, the Michael Strange Foundation was awarded the President’s Award from the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania at the inaugural Broadband Summit at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square on Wednesday.
The BCAP President’s Award is bestowed upon a deserving organization serving its community, with this year’s selection honoring the Michael Strange Foundation, which was established by the fallen serviceman Michael Strange’s father, Charles Strange. The organization assists Gold Star Families in their grieving process by providing unconditional support and services by professionals in several fields, and also by those who have suffered similar losses so that the healing process can begin.
BCAP President Todd Eachus has worked with the Foundation over the past two years. Eachus, a U.S. Navy veteran, considers himself fortunate to know Charles and Michael’s family.
“Losing a loved one, especially in service to our nation, is the ultimate sacrifice for a family. In the days, weeks and months that follow, Gold Star families need additional support, and the Michael Strange Foundation has been able to offer that,” Eachus said. “I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child, but Charlie has managed to channel that grief into helping people in a way that is truly amazing.”
In remarks to the summit attendees, Charles told them that remembering a fallen loved one is an important part of the grieving and healing process and that’s why at all Foundation events, photos of the fallen heroes are presented.
Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Petty Officer First Class Michael Strange joined the U.S. Navy, where he worked in several high-profile signals intelligence gathering offices and became a first line supervisor in charge of multiple analysts. After an arduous screening process, Petty Officer Strange volunteered and was selected for duty at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. After completing the Tactical Direct support course, finishing at the top of his class, he was assigned to TACDEVRON THREE as an Information Operations enabler.
Strange was a highly decorated combat veteran with numerous awards, including the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and other campaign and unit decorations. On Aug. 6, 2011, Strange died of wounds caused from when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was aboard crashed in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
CAPTION FOR CONSIDERATION: BCAP President Todd Eachus presents the BCAP President’s Community Service Award to Charles Strange of Philadelphia, founder of the Michael Strange Foundation. Charles’ son, Michael, was killed in 2011 in Afghanistan. The foundation assists Gold Star Families with their grief in the months and years that follow their serviceperson’s death.
The Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania, a member-driven organization based in Harrisburg, actively promotes broadband cable and telecommunications industry issues in Pennsylvania. BCAP – the nation’s first state cable association – represents cable operators, programmers and equipment suppliers that collectively provide service to nearly 3 million Pennsylvania households and businesses.
# # #
Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania
127 State St., Harrisburg PA 17101
717.214.2000 * www.BCAPA.com * @BCAPisBroadband
First in Broadband. The Future of Broadband. ®