Hallstead-Great Bend American Legion Post 357 officers installed

From left: American Legion Post 357 officers were installed in a ceremony Saturday, Aug. 5, held in the post banquet hall. From left: Tom Snyder, Rich Rood, Bill Kienzler, Mike Welch and Tom Gallagher. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON

From left: American Legion Post 357 officers were installed in a ceremony Saturday, Aug. 5, held in the post banquet hall. From left: Tom Snyder, Rich Rood, Bill Kienzler, Mike Welch and Tom Gallagher. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON

Hallstead-Great Bend American Legion Post 357 held its officer installation ceremony Saturday, Aug. 5, with newly elected officers officially taking their positions in the American Legion, Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders.
Tom Snyder is the new Post 357 Commander, taking the reigns from Rich Rood, who assume the 2nd Vice Commander.
Snyder has held other positions at both the Post and District 15 level. “All the other positions are not as near and dear to me as this one,” he told the crowd. Post 357 is the largest American Legion post in District 15, he said.
“There’s more to it than just a bar,” Snyder said, noting the number of community programs and veterans’ services made available by and through the Legion post. “It’s not just old guys swapping war stories.”
Rood said the post is building on a successful past. “We’re fortunate to be able to continue to be the driving force of veterans rights.”
As the new Commander, Snyder gifted Rood with a remote starter for his van, saying he drove the Past Commander to Syracuse for a medical appointment last winter and the extra warmth in the vehicle would be welcome on a cold morning.
Auxiliary member Doreen Wood was thanked by all of the units for her dedication and commitment to post activities.
Other unit leaders installed included: Debbie Singer, Auxiliary President; Randy Hankins, Sons of the American Legion Commander; and Jason Wescott, American Legion Riders President.
Rounding out the slate of officers is:
Legion: Snyder, Commander; Bill Kienzler, 1st Vice Commander; Rood, 2nd Vice Commander; Courtney Haggerty, Finance; Terry Rafferty, Adjutant; James Haggerty, Service Officer; Mike Welch, Judge Advocate; and Tom Gallagher, Sergeant of Arms.
Auxiliary: Singer, President; Karen Sinnett, 1st Vice President; Pat Yonkin, 2nd Vice President; Tina Haggerty, Secretary; Margo Merritt, Treasurer; Susan DiCola, Historian; Laurie Kaszuba, Chaplain; and Lena Wescott, Sergeant of Arms.
Sons of the American Legion: Hankins, President; Mike VanGorden, 1st Vice Commander; George Bartlett, 2nd Vice Commander; Lonnie Fisher, Finance; Tom Snyder, Adjutant; Bob Marshman, Chaplain; Brinton Cresse, Historian; Richard Swingle, Sergeant of Arms.
Riders: Wescott, President; Brett Rood, Vice President; Robert Muiter, Secretary; Judy Chauncy, Treasurer; Bill Evans, Chaplain; Victor Arnold, Road Captain.
The dinner was prepared by the Knights of Columbus.

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