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Sunday, July 19, 2026
Convention Puts Focus on First Respnders
Northeast Officer of Year Jason Beichner with his family and 2025-2026 Department Commander John Miga.
The 108th Department Convention, held at the Syracuse Marriott Downtown July 16-18, put the focus on the outstanding work of first responders.
In announcing this year’s honorees, Committee Chair Cynthia Nelson said she was “excited to report” that last year’s officer of the year, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Beichner, “was selected by the National Committee on Law and Order to receive the Northeast Regional Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award.” Beichner was cited for saving the life of a motorcyclist who had a partiallysevered leg in a crash as well as for working with his K9 partner to find missing persons and capture fleeing suspects.This year’s honorees included:
• Officer of the Year Nicole Amatore, of Rochester Police Department. She was cited for shooting and stopping an armed suspect, while under fire herself, after three of her fellow officers were wounded last December.
Officer of Year Nicole Amatore and 2025-2026 Dept. Commander John Miga.
• Firefighter of the Year Paul Glasser Sr. of Averill Park Sand Lake Fire Department. He was cited for 51 years of dedicated service that included leadership and instructor roles in both the fire department and its rescue squad. Glasser is a U.S. Navy vet who served in Vietnam.
Firefighter of Year Paul Glasser and 2025-2026 Dept. Commander John Miga
• EMT of the Year Sara Stadler of Erie County Medical Service. As a paramedic she supports suburban EMS units that have minimal manpower. She was cited in particular for taking control of a rainy, chaotic nighttime motor vehicle accident scene, assisted by two other EMS units. Using flash lights to see, she revived and stabilized a severely injured victim who had been thrown from a vehicle, and continued to care for the victim during transport to the hospital.
• EMS Squad of the Year Bellmore Merrick Volunteer Ambulance Service in Bellmore, NY. The squad was cited, in particular, for responding to a private residence where paramedics found an elderly female lying on the floor, unresponsive and not breathing. They were able to revive and stabilized her for transport to the hospital.
• Police Department of the Year Jamestown Police Department. Despite operating below minimum staffing, the officers responded to over3,000 calls in 2025, including over 1,000 for serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle thefts. Officers voluntarily participate on special teams to further enhance the capability of the department.
Jamestown Police Department Deputy Chief Adam McKinley and Chief Scot Forrester accept the Police Dept. of the Year Award from 2025-2026 Dept. Commander John Miga.
• Fire Department of the Year Milford Fire Department of Milford, NY. With 50 volunteer members, the department responds to over 500 calls per year. Members attend mandatory training and drills. During a massive fire last July that destroyed several buildings, Assistant Chief Jonathan Ashe and Firefighter Will Smith rescued a victim trapped in a second floor bedroom.
Milford Fire Department receives the 1Fire Dept of Year Award.
Nelson noted that the Department of New York was able to honor outstanding first responders thanks to the committees that submit nominations on the post, county and district levels. She singled out for special recognition East Meadow Post 1082 and Post Chairman Leonard Volpe; Nassau County and its chairman, Kevin Tirman; and the 8th District and its chairman, Ted Balbierz.
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Saturday, July 18, 2026
Newly Elected State Commander Puts Focus on Youth
“Today’s youth is tomorrow’s future.”
That’s the theme and focus for newly elected New York State American Legion Commander Thomas R. Schreck.
“I will be pushing the youth programs,” noted Schreck, a U.S. Navy veteran whose election as American Legion Department of New York commander culminated the 108th annual Department Convention, held July 16-18 in Syracuse.
He pointed to such Legion programs as Boys State, Girls State, Junior Shooting, Oratorical, and Scholarships.
In particular, “I’m pushing” for the expansion of Boys State, which immerses high school juniors into the governmental and political arenas on the city, county and state levels.A native of Buffalo and now a resident of Chili, NY, Commander Schreck is a member of Chili Post 1830 and the Post Color Guard, where he met “my “sweetheart, Patricia”. He served in the navy from 1970 to 1974, deploying to the Mediterranean, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Following his discharge, he studied criminal justice at Niagara County Community College and criminology, sociology, and psychology at SUNY Brockport. He then joined the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Police Bureau, working there from 1981 to 2003. He also worked security for Wegman’s Food Corporation for about 15 years.
In the American Legion, Schreck has served as commander on the post, county and district levels as well as a Department vice commander. He also is an instructor at New York American Legion College and is active on the national level on the National Security Subcommittee.
He said his passion for mentoring future generations began in 2004 as a Boys State counselor.
“I’ve been there ever since. I firmly believe in the program. I’ve seen a lot of good success stories.”With his election as Department commander, he is stepping down as the Boys State program director.
Nevertheless, his presence will still be felt: He announced that his Special Commander’s Project is Boys State.•••
While the convention ended with a focus on fostering tomorrow’s leaders, it began with a salute to those who came before — to veterans who sacrificed for our nation’s freedom.
That is when David Detler, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, suddenly found himself facing a standing ovation, with hundreds of younger veterans cheering and applauding, as outgoing Department Commander John Miga pointed to him sitting in the front row.
Detler is a proud U.S. Army infantryman, who served in England and France and in “Belgium in the Battle of the Bulge,” Miga said. He suffered severe injuries and was medically discharged in October 1945.
Detler is also a “proud Legionnaire” from Liverpool Post 188, Miga said, and is “accompanied today by his lovely wife, Sierra.”
World War II vet David Detler and wife Sierra with 2025-2026 Department Commander John Miga.
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The spotlight on Detler immediately followed opening ceremonies, which included the myriad veterans rending salutes as the Department Color Guard presented the colors and removing their caps as Department Chaplain Rev. Mattie McIntyre invoked God’s “presence and blessings upon this meeting.”Then Master-at-arms Margaret Folk led the Pledge of Allegiance and Thomas Schreck conducted the POW/MIA Remembrance ceremony.LEGIONNAIRE OF YEAR
The Legionnaire of the Year is Tom Fisher from Columbia County, Committee Chair Victoria Ferris announced .
“He exemplifies the highest ideal of the American Legion through unwavering dedication, servant leadership, and an extraordinary commitment to veterans, youth, and community service.”
2025-2026 Department Commander John Miga presents Legionnaire of Year Award to Thomas Fisher
CONVENTION HIGHTLIGHTS
The convention featured speakers and reports, with a focus on recognizing outstanding first responders, youth, and Legionnaires.
Deputy Syracuse Mayor Corey Dunham brought a joint proclamation declaring it American Legion Week in the city and Onondaga County.
In his farewell address , Miga noted:
“As commander, I learned something important. Leadership is not about the title. It’s about responsibility. It’s about showing up. It’s about listening. It’s about serving.” And in traveling across 62 counties, he discovered that Legionnaires everywhere “embody those values.”He concluded: “Our challenges are real, our opportunities are greater. We must keep moving forward, welcoming new members, strengthening our programs, and supporting every veteran who needs us.”
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Department Treasurer Catherine Erwin announced that the Department was in fine fiscal shape and that the Finance Committee and Executive Committee approved the 2026-2027 budget, which adjusted for changes in revenues and expenses. While she couldn’t speak for the National Finance Committee, the Department of New York was not increasing membership dues, she said to cheers and applause.
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National Executive Committeeman Frank Peters reported on a national headquarters endeavor to make it easy to contact senators and congressional representatives on pending legislation that the American Legion supports.
“The American Legion Grassroots Action Program” explains legislative issues and encourages Legionnaires “to engage elected officials on Capitol Hill, by either in person visits, phone calls, or through emails, using the Grassroots Action Program web page.” One can access the program at this link:
https://www.votervoice.net/AmericanLegion/homeNoting that, “as the American Legion family, we are better together,” he said the Department of New York passed a resolution at last year’s convention, “asking the national organization for action and support of a local campaign to present the Medal of Honor posthumously to Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, who was killed in action while protecting his troops from a suicide bomb on August 28, 2013,” in Afghanistan. The National Executive Committee approved the resolution last October and it “was sent to the desk of President Donald J. Trump, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, Senator Charles Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for action and support.”
On March 3, 2026, “President Trump presented the Medal of Honor to Robert and Linda Ollis,” recognizing their son’s “conspicuous gallantry.”
,He added: “I have no doubt that our resolution played a significant role in a renewed effort to see this honor bestowed on the Ollis family.”
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Legion College Dean Timothy Collmer reported that 104 persons had signed up for the college’s 2026 session, held June 5-7 at SUNY Morrisville.
The class included 63 Legionnaires, 32 Auxiliary members and nine members of the Sons of the American Legion.
“We graduated 94.”
[ MORE HIGHLIGHTS TO COME ]
