If you follow the shooting industry, you know Henry Repeating Arms Co. gives away a lot of firearms, often donating rifles to be auctioned off in support of the shooting sports.
Monday, the company brought its generosity to Pittsburgh.
Anthony Imperato, president of the company – which, in part, makes its Big Boy rifles in Rostraver – gave six “military service tribute” rifles to veterans at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 116th national convention. The event is being held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center through Wednesday.
The rifles are Golden Boy lever-action .22s. They come adorned with lots of extras, though.
Military tribute rifles have nickel-plated receivers that feature a bald eagle and the words “in recognition of military service to our great country” on one side and the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Bell on the other. Both have gold plating, too.
There’s also a full-color flag and the words “God Bless America” etched into the stock and the seals of the five branches of the military in the forearm.
One rifle was presented to VFW commander-in-chief John Stroud, a 21-year veteran of the Air Force.
Also getting rifles were: Army veterans Eugene L. Perrino Sr., who received a bronze star for heroism in Iraq, and Tim Green, a 22-year veteran who has been honored multiple times for his humanitarian work involving children; Navy vet John Wrinkle, who served in Vietnam; the Air National Guard’s Shannan F. Brown, who now works helping female veterans; and the Marines’ Michael Depew, for whom no information was available.
Imperato also donated $50,000 in cash to the VFW in memory of his father, who served in Korea from 1953-55.
Anthony Imperato, at left, president of Henry Repeating Arms Co., presents VFW commander-in-chief John W. Stroud with a “military service tribute rifle” at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 116th convention in Pittsburgh earlier this week.
