Armstrong has received the 2017 Veteran Employer of the Year award from Veteran Cable Services in recognition of the company's commitment to veteran causes.

According to an Armstrong news release, the award was presented to Armstrong President Jeff Ross at the annual Armstrong awards banquet.

“Choosing Armstrong as recipient of the (award) was an easy choice for Veterans Cable Services,” said Tony Accamando, co-founder. “Supporting veterans causes is nothing new to Armstrong, as they have always recognized the unselfish sacrifices made by our brave mean and women in uniform.”

Ross said Armstrong most recently partnered with Veterans Cable for the Healing Heroes initiative.

The program was created on Veterans Day 2016 to raise funds to donate five service dogs to qualifying disabled veterans and to raise general awareness regarding veterans' needs.

To date, Armstrong has raised the funds to donate eight dogs to veterans and now is working on fundraising to provide a ninth.

Healing Heroes provides service dogs to veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, seizures and other issues.

Tony Accamando and John Piazza, co-founders of Veterans Cable Services, were overwhelmed at the intent and results of the Healing Heroes program.

“The fact they (Armstrong) were able to get everyone involved, including all of their employees and customers, is powerful,” Piazza said. “Not only did they raise awareness and improve the quality of life for veterans, they also helped save veteran lives.”

The two companies have a long relationship, as Armstrong was Veterans Cable Services' first customers in 1984 when the latter company started out hiring veterans to perform contracting work in the Pittsburgh area.

Adams Daniels, Armstrong spokesman, said Armstrong has used Veterans Cable Services for contracted work through the years.

He said Armstrong also tries to hire veterans as often as possible.

“There are a lot of veteran employees right up through our management team that works out of the corporate office,” Daniels said. “There's a certain leadership quality that we see in veterans and we like to employ them when we can.”

Armstrong received the Veteran Employer of the Year award in October.