Latest News
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Monday, March 10, 2025
Katherine Mazaroski Is 2025 State Oratorical Champ
FROM LEFT: National Vice Commander Charles Robins, Bradley Chen, Yasmin Issa, Lucas Christopher, Department Champion Katherine Mazaroski, Nicholas Thomas, and Department Commander Keith Koster.
ALBANY — Katherine Mazaroski, a Junior at Sacred Heart Academy in Nassau County, New York, is The American Legion New York State Oratorical Champion for 2025, Oratorical Chairman Anthony Paternostro announced.
This year’s contest was conducted on March 8 at the Crown Plaza-Desmond Hotel, Albany.
Katherine Mazaroski
As this year’s champion, Katherine Mazaroski wins a $6,000 scholarship. She competed against four other finalists from a cross section of the state in the 88th Annual American Legion High School Scholarship Program – “A Constitutional Speech Contest” — for the Department of New York. She was sponsored by the Carle Place Post 1718, Nassau County, 10th District, and Zone 2.
Other contestants were:
• Bradley Chen (Kings County, 2nd District, Zone 1), sponsored by Lt. B.R. Kimlau Post 1291, who won a $4,000 scholarship.
• Lucas Christopher (Monroe County, 7th District, Zone 5), sponsored by Cottreall-Warner Post 942, who won a $2,500 scholarship.
• Yasmine Issa (Schoharie County, 3rd District, Zone 3), sponsored by Sharon Springs Post 1269, and Nicholas Thomas (Herkimer County, 6th District, Zone 4), sponsored by Hugick-Purcell-Shephard Post 616, both winning a $2,000 scholarship each.
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Thursday, March 06, 2025
Check Out the February Impact Report
Check out the membership impact report and see some amazing numbers — such as 1.4 million veterans served through the Buddy Check program by local Posts.
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Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Legion Honors 102-year-old Veteran
On Tuesday February 18, American Legion members from the 9th District and Westchester County honored Dr. Jerome “Jerry” Jacobson at Brighton Senior Living in Tarrytown, NY, on his 102nd birthday. Jacobson is a decorated World War II bombardier who flew over Europe with the 15th Air Force.
PHOTO, FROM LEFT: Michael G. O’Connor, Ossining Post 506 vice commander; Steven Felsenfeld, 9th District vice commander; WWII vet Jerry Jacobson; Dan Morea, Westchester County Veterans Services Agency (past 9th District commander & Beacon Post 203); Adam John, Post 506; and Anthony Chu, Post 506 vice commander.
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Wednesday, February 05, 2025
Check Out January’s Impact Report
The American Legion Membership Impact Report for January is available.
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Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Commander Briefs Media on Veterans’ Issues, Announces $50,000 Grant
Commander Keith Koster (left) displays the “Be the One” banner while briefing news media on suicide prevention and other veterans’ issues. Assisting him is his aide, David Lockhart.
Pointing to The American Legion’s major suicide prevention campaign, Department Commandeer Keith Koster said “we must ‘Be the One’” to reach out and spread the word, take the Columbia protocol and help veterans exhibiting signs they might take their own lives.
That’s how he began a briefing with news media during the 106th Mid-Winter Conference on Saturday, Jan. 18, in Albany.
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Friday, January 17, 2025
Winter Issue of ‘Legion New York Mag’ is online
The Winter issue of Legion New York Magazine is available online. Printed copies were available at the Mid-Winter Conference, held Jan. 17-19, in Albany.This issue includes such content as:
• Commander’s Message.
• $100,000 donation for homeless vets.
• America’s largest Veterans Day Parade.
• Newspaper profiles Legionnaires.
• Legionnaires bring holiday cheer to VA patients and to other veterans.
• Service officer expands programs, including “healing with horses.”
• Depew Post honors dealership.
• Erie County Legionnaires at Heroes Gala.
• Spectrum donates to Dunbar Post.
• Salute to Canadian and British vets.
• Halfmoon Post donates $43,000 to causes.
• West Bloomfield Post launches gaming program.
• Legionnaires support Air Guard at Buffalo wreath-laying.
