American Legion Manuel L. Quezon Post 603 awarded Department of California 2015-2016 Americanism James Fisk Award and installs its 2016-2017 officers

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Seated from left, the 2016-2017 officers include: Post Commander Lee Horton, 1st Vice Cmdr. Robert Asercion, 2nd Vice Cmdr. Ken Spingola, Chaplain Paul del Rosario, Finance Officer Phillip Johnson. Standing from left, members Deitdre Holtz, Eli Cabugao, and Ernie Moises; Service Officer Warlito Moises, Asst. Sgt. at Arms Larry Trusclair, Sgt. at Arms Erlando Yambao, Historian Nestor Aliga, and member Manny Concepcion. Not pictured are Adjutant Jimmy Jianoran and member Joselito Lagman.
For the second straight year, Vallejo’s own American Legion Manuel L. Quezon Post 603 was awarded the prestigious Department of California Americanism James Fisk Award. Post 603 Chaplain Paul del Rosario and Service Officer Warlito Moises proudly accepted the award at the annual statewide convention in Fresno in June.
Post 603 also installed its 2016-2017 officers at the Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building. Second-year Post Commander Lee Horton, a Vallejo Police Dept. captain with deep ties to Filipino-Americans, thanked all the Legionnaires for all their volunteer work throughout the year.
Chartered on March 31, 1945, Post 603 honored 200 World War II veterans in 2011-2012, over 400 Korean War veterans in 2013-2014, and over 600 Vietnam War veterans in 2014-present.
In 2015-2016, Post 603 assisted the: Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum’s “War Comes Home” exhibit including a panel discussion with WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm and Iraq veterans; Vallejo Police Dept's annual blood drive; California State University, Maritime Academy in becoming the first Purple Heart University in the University of California and California State University system; New Dawn Vallejo Corp. in acquiring Certificates of Appreciation for 579 iBallVallejo LateNightBasketball participants and volunteers; Rebuilding Together Solano County’s building improvements and fundraisers; California State University, Maritime Academy’s new Veterans Center; Jesse Bethel High School NJROTC recognition; Caring for our Heroes and Seniors seminar; Annual Vallejo Police and Fire ceremony during National Police Week; Annual "Coffee with the Cops" events; and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom becoming America’s First Purple Heart Recreation Park.
Throughout the year, Post 603 wrote and submitted several City of Vallejo and/or Vallejo City Unified School District proclamations/resolutions for: Veterans Day; National Education Week; Education Support Professionals Day; Day of the Special Educator; Martin Luther King Day; Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day; Women’s Military History Week; Caring for our Heroes and Seniors Week; Asian American Pacific Islander Month; and Memorial Day.
Post 603’s upcoming projects include: assisting www.FilVetRep.org in petitioning Congress to recognize World War II veterans of the US Army Forces Far East with US Congressional Gold Medals; Renaming the I-80 Hunter Hill safety rest area as a Purple Heart Trail Safety Rest Area; Designating Interstate 780 as a Women’s Purple Heart Trail; Designating the I-780 and Interstate 80 highway interchange as Congressional Gold Medal Highway Interchange "in honor of the men and women that fought against fascism abroad while breaking gender and/or racial barriers at home" including the Montford Point Marines, Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII, and the Native American Code Talkers; and commemorating the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 17, 2016. World War II veterans of Vallejo who wish to be honored with various Certificates of Appreciation must submit-email their name, phone and address by Veterans Day, Nov 11, 2016, to Nestor.Aliga@comcast.net.