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American Legion commander to be honored in Sanborn

Fri, Sep 22nd 2017 02:20 pm
Denise H. Rohan, the first woman elected to the post of national commander of The American Legion, will be honored by the Western New York 8th District of The American Legion at a banquet held at The American Legion Wheatfield Post 1451, 6525 Ward Road, Sanborn. The banquet will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13.
Rohan was elected national commander of the 2 million-member American Legion on Aug. 24, during the 99th national convention of America's largest veterans organization.
Born in McGregor, Iowa, Rohan lived in Elkader, Iowa, until leaving for U.S. Army basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, in 1974. She served on active duty as a stock control and accounting specialist and repair parts specialist course instructor at Fort Lee, Virginia, until her honorable discharge in August 1976.
Rohan currently lives in Verona, Wisconsin, where she has served The American Legion since 1984. Prior to her transfer to Post 385 in Verona, she served as the commander of Post 333 in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where she established a Sons of the American Legion squadron and chartered a Boy Scout troop. She has also served as the department commander of Wisconsin. She is a graduate of Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, and The Collegiate Management Institute.
Rohan served the Family Readiness Group as a civilian volunteer with the Wisconsin Army National Guard 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 1-105th Cavalry Squadron. She also served with the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program.
Her theme as national commander is "Family First," and her fundraising project is the legion's temporary financial assistance program and the legion's service officer program. TFA awards cash grants to minor children of veterans who are eligible for American Legion membership. These grants help families in need meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses, thereby keeping the child or children in a more stable environment.
"The national commander spends a great deal of time in Washington, D.C., promoting veterans rights and veterans legislation," said Ronald Krul, Wheatfield Post commander and event chairman. "As her duties require her to travel throughout the United States, it is a great honor to have her visit Western New York."
The American Legion is the nation's largest wartime veterans' organization, established in 1919 to represent and care for veterans and their families. The American Legion promotes patriotism and citizenship in America. Membership is open to men and women who have served in the armed forces during a time of conflict.
There are 2.4 million members nationally. In New York state, there are over 79,000 legionnaires in 860 local posts. The American Legion Auxiliary is the world's largest women's patriotic service organization founded in 1919 to assist The American Legion. The members support and advocate for veterans, active duty military, and their families.
The American Legion Auxiliary membership consists of mothers, wives, sisters, daughter, and/or granddaughters of veterans who have qualified for legion membership. The auxiliary has over 44,000 members in New York, in 547 local units.
The Sons of The American Legion is made up of male descendants of legionnaires or, if deceased, would have qualified for legion membership. There are approximately 29,000 members in the detachment in 400 local squadrons.
For more information about The American Legion or information on how to become a member of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, or Sons of the Legion, contact an American Legion post or go to www.nylegion.net.

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