Badger &“Wisconsin”
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September 14, 2017 Vol. 94, No. 8
Official Publications of The Wisconsin American Legion Family
www.wilegion.org
The mission of The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin is to provide service to veterans, their families and their communities.
Denise H. Rohan Elected National Commander for 2017-18 A U.S. Army veteran from Verona, Wisconsin was elected National Commander of the nationʼs largest veteranʼs organization on August 24th. Delegates to The American Legionʼs 99th National Convention in Reno, Nevada chose Denise H. Rohan of the Mason-Lindsay Post No. 385 in Verona, Wisconsin to lead the 2 million-member organization of wartime veterans for a one-year term. Commander Rohan joined the U.S. Army in 1974 and has served The American Legion since 1984. Prior to her transfer to Post No. 385 in Verona, she served as the Commander of Post No. 333 in Sun Prairie, where she established a Sons of The American Legion squadron and chartered a Boy Scout troop. She served as the Department Commander in Wisconsin during the 2011-12 membership year. Denise and her husband, Mike,
are both 2006 graduates of the National American Legion College and 2015 graduates of the Wisconsin American Legion College. Both have gone on to serve as Department and National American Legion College facilitators. Rohan was employed with the University of Wisconsin Madison as the assistant bursar of student loans until her retirement in 2012. She managed the University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and University of Wisconsin College systemʼs $120 million loan portfolio made up of approximately 200 different federal, institutional and state programs in compliance with all laws, regulations and policy. She was responsible for the efficiency and design of the computerized student loan accounts receivable system. She is a grad-
uate of Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, Wis., and The Collegiate Management Institute. Rohan served the Family Readiness Group as a volunteer with
DENISE H. ROHAN National Commander
the Wisconsin Army National Guard 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 1-105th Cavalry Squadron. She also served with the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program. Her theme as national commander is “Family First” and her fundraising project is the Legionʼs Temporary Financial Assistance program, which awards cash grants to minor children of veterans who are eligible for American Legion membership. These grants help families in need meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses, thereby keeping the child or children in a more stable environment. Rohan has been married to Mike since 1976, and they have a son, Nicholas, daughter-in-law Angie, and two grandchildren,
Sawyer and Isla. Mike is very active with The American Legion on both the Department and National levels and is a Past Department Adjutant. Nick and Sawyer are members of Squadron No. 385, and Isla is a member of Unit No. 385. Commander Rohan took the oath of office along with five other national officers. Serving as National Vice Commanders are Larry J. Marcouillier of Delaware; William J. Flanagan of Illinois; Bobby D. Bryant of Oklahoma; Bryan I. Callies of South Dakota; Paul R. Stephenson of Utah. National Historian Richard T. Dubay of Michigan, National Sergeant-at-Arms Roy Helms of Wisconsin and National Chaplain Robert Allen Vick of Florida were appointed to their positions by Commander Rohan following the close of the convention.
PDVC Roy Helms of Oshkosh Post No. 70 Named National Sergeant at Arms A United State Marine Corps veteran from Oshkosh was appointed National American Legion Sergeant at Arms of the 2 millionmember organization on August 24th at the National convention in Reno, Nevada. Roy A. Helms served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1974 to 1978. He was trained in electronics, primarily combat surveillance radar. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C, performing repairs and calibration of electronic test equipment, including additional training to become precision measurement electronics lab certified. Following his Marine Corps service, he attended technical college, receiving an associateʼs degree in electronics
technology and then pursued a second degree in computer programming. While in technical school, Helms
ROY HELMS National Sergeant at Arms
went to work for Morse Electronics, which has become part of what is now Baycom Inc. Since December 1978, he has been involved with the installation and maintenance of public safety radio systems and E911 dispatch centers. He is currently a senior tech/tech supervisor. Helms served as Commander of the Cook-Fuller Post No. 70 in Oshkosh, as 6th District Commander and as a Department of Wisconsin Vice Commander. He also is a member of the Sons of The American Legion, Squadron No. 70 in Oshkosh. Helms has served on various Department committees and is cur(continued on page 4)
Commander Laurel M. Clewell and her husband, Department Historian H. Gordon Clewell, of the Johnston-Blessman Post No. 38 in Appleton took part in ceremonies prior to the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds game on Sunday, August 13th at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The annual American Legion Baseball All-star game was played later that day. See page 5 of this edition of the Badger Legionnaire for additional coverage.
2018 Membership Goal: 53,500 • September 7th Total: 33,534 • 62.68% 9
6
3
8
11
2
12
4
1
7
10
5
64.09%
62.08%
61.24%
61.22%
61.10%
61.00%
57.59%
56.05%
55.33%
54.29%
53.26%
47.40%