Veterans honored with district American Legion awards
Two members of the Walter W. Craig Post 354 of the American Legion in New Bethlehem were recently presented with regional honors recognizing their dedication to the veterans organization.
veterans honored
Ray Ishman and Michael Mazzocco were recently named Post Commander and Post Adjutant of the Year for 2024 for American Legion District 27.
“It’s a nice honor to have,” Ishman said last week of his Commander of the Year award, pointing out that District 27 is comprised of 28 posts from Clarion, Armstrong, Jefferson and Indiana counties. “It’s a pretty big area.”
Mazzocco also described his Adjutant of the Year award as an “honor,” especially given the large pool of potential recipients.
“There are a lot of people who have been in this a lot longer than I have,” he said. “I’m kind of a newbie, but it’s a nice honor.”
According to Ishman, the awards are determined by a panel of three individuals, including the district commander.
“You have to submit a nomination and resume of what you and your post have done,” he said. Ishman noted, however, that while the awards are considered annually, winners are not always selected each year.
“Sometimes the nominations just aren’t strong enough,” he continued, also pointing out that recipients are not eligible to win the awards in back to back years.
Recipients of the Commander of the Year and Adjutant of the Year awards are selected for their “outstanding achievements in promoting the American Legion programs.”
Ishman received the Commander of the Year award for 2022, which Mazzocco said is a clear reflection of Ishman’s dedication to the programs and community service at the local post.
“For Ray to win this award two different times in a short amount of time really reflects the way people see his leadership and drive for programs and more,” Mazzocco said.
Ishman said that the accomplishments of Post 354 — including the construction of the veterans park, hanging the veterans banners throughout the community, the Wreaths Across America initiative, the annual community Memorial Day program and more — wouldn’t be possible without the help and support of its members.
“We have a group of about 15 people who are always there when we need to get stuff done,” Ishman said.
