National recognizes departments for membership, new post success

The American Legion National Headquarters has named the recipients for a few of its annual awards for the 2019-2020 membership year.

All available awards are featured in The American Legion National Membership Awards Program Manual. Download it here.

Department Commander of the Year Award (framed certificate)

The Department Commander of the Year Award is presented to any department commander who meets or exceeds their assigned 100 percent membership goal by the May target date. Seven American Legion departments met or exceeded the 100 percent membership target date of June 17 (pushed back from May due to COVID-19) for the 2019-2020 membership year.

The following will receive the Department Commander of the Year Award:

• Colorado – Dean M. Noechel

• Mexico – Milo Vukovich

• Montana – Jeffery Nelson

• North Carolina – James D. Moore Jr.

• Philippines – John T. O’Brien

• Utah – Martha A. Bigbie

• Wyoming – Mike Cooke

All Target Dates Award (plaque and $1,000)

The All Target Dates Award recognizes any department that meets or exceeds each membership target date up to, and including, the May 100 percent target date for the current membership year.

Award recipients for 2019-2020 are:

• Department of Mexico

• Department of Montana

• Department of North Carolina

• Department of Wyoming

District Commander New Post Achievement Award (framed certificate)

The District Commander New Post Achievement Award is presented to district commanders who create new American Legion posts in their respective districts and have the new post’s temporary charter application on file at National Headquarters by the May membership target date.

Award recipients for 2019-2020 are:

• Illinois – George Don Horn, District 9

• Massachusetts – Brian Tidlund, District 3

• Montana – Joe Yeoman, District 1

• Ohio – Walter Meharg, District 2

• Ohio – James Jennings, District 4

• Pennsylvania – Michael D. Murphy, District 1

• Puerto Rico – Nilda Bonano, District 8

• South Dakota – David Booze, District 1

• South Dakota – Rodney Smith, District 7

• Texas – Alan Caesar, District 5

• Texas – Jay Jernigan, District 10

• Texas – David Crozier, District 16