Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Dept. Commander Honors Legionnaire, Post

STATEN ISLAND -- Ninety-year-old Louis Guerierro of Staten Island and American Legion Gold Star Post 1365 on Staten Island are being honored with the Department Commander's Award of Excellence for their service to veterans and community.

New York State (Department) Commander Kenneth Governor presented the Awards of Excellence Sept. 15 during his visit to Richmond County (Staten Island).

Guerierro, a past department vice commander and member of Frederick Staats Post 517, was cited for 65 years of service to the American Legion and to community, state and nation. His dedication as the American Legion county leader "has been an integral part of Richmond County's success," Commander Governor said, noting that Guerierro's "leadership and mentoring skills have produced many outstanding leaders."

Governor praised members of Gold Star Post 1365 for "dedication to the residents of Richmond County in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy" last October. "By making your post available as a staging area for supplies, and the countless hours your members put in, you became a major part of the American Legion's relief efforts during this tragedy," he said during the presentation. "Congratulations on a job well done." Accepting the Commander's Award of Excellence on behalf of the post were Mark Kelly, post commander; Robert Muir , post commander during Hurricane Sandy, and Ed Matusiak, county vice commander and coordinator of the post's relief efforts.