By Rick Knapp Jr.

As a new year begins, American Legion Glen Hill Post #287 is getting ready to welcome past and present state officers of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of the American Legion to Cedar Springs.

Thomas G. Brown was elected as the American Legion Department Commander for 2012-2013, in Kalamazoo, on Sunday, July 1, 2012, at the Department of Michigan’s 94th state convention. Commander Brown, a retired Viet Nam war veteran, served in the US Air Force from 1965-1985, and is an honorary 28-year member at Loud-Merkel-LaPlante Post #274 in Oscoda. He has held all offices at the Post, including four years as Commander. He has also held all offices in the 10th District and is currently Judge Advocate. At the Department level he’s been Vice Commander, two years as historian, five years on the Education and Scholarship Committee (four as chairman). At the national level, he served on the National and Homeland Security Counsel for one year and National Security Commission for three years.

Now that he is Department Commander, he will attend the Early Bird Dinner at the American Legion, Glen Hill Post #287, on Saturday, January 5. At the dinner, he will bring news of the progress that he has made as department commander for the past six months.

Mary Anne Yuncker was elected as American Legion Auxiliary Department of Michigan President of the 93rd State Convention on Sunday, July 1 for the 2012-2013 season. She is a 23-year member of Unit #287, with her husband Bill. They reside in Nelson Township. She is a former teacher and nurse, now retired. She has four grown children that live out of state. She is a member of the Women’s Club and is active in her church choir. Her theme this year is “The sky is the limit for our veterans” and her special project is women veterans.

Delegates to the Michigan Sons of the American Legion State Convention held in Houghton Lake, Michigan on Sunday, June 3, elected Rodney Tolbert, of the Edward W. Thompson Sons of the American Legion Squadron #49, in South Haven, as 2012-2013 Detachment Commander, representing over 20,000 members.

Tolbert, a 20-year-member of the Sons of the American Legion, is the son of a Korean War veteran who served in the United States Army. Tolbert is also a veteran who served in the US Army from 1976 to 1979 as a special weapons expert. Born in Ypsilanti, he moved to Benton Harbor at age 7. He has two children and two grandchildren. He recently married his lovely wife Wendy in September 2012. He has held many offices in Squadron #49, 4th District, and Detachment levels before becoming State Commander for the Sons of the American Legion.

The Cedar Springs American Legion Post #287 will welcome all past and present state officers, along with the Post #287 current membership, and will present Commander’s Brown, Tolbert and Yuncker with traditional Red Flannel undergarments and will parade them around the dance floor to the chicken dance song.

The American Legion was founded in 1919 based on the four pillars—veterans’ rehabilitation, Americanism, child welfare, and national security. The Legion’s mission above all is as a consumer’s advocate for veterans. For more info visit www.glenhillpost287.org or www.michiganlegion.org.