On January 15, 2000, I received a  citation from the Department of Pennsylvania American Legion State Commander
Coccimiglio at their DEC Meeting!!!!

This is me and Commander "Kutch" while he read the beautiful plaque that he presented to me!!!!!!

The Commander presented me with this plaque. Can't you tell how proud I was!!!

This is me giving a speech after I received the award.
Below is the speech I made............

  "Thank you so much for this very special recognition you have given to me. I know that because of all of the things I have done with the Veterans and for the POW/MIA's that I was invited here to be honored today, but I am not sure that I deserve to be honored. It is all of you, the Veterans who have served our country so proudly, that need to be honored, not only on Veterans Day, but every day.
      At my school, I met a marvelous man who told me his story of landing at Utah each, on D-Day. He was so wonderful and I knew he was special because he was a Veteran. Because of him I learned about our World Wars, the conflict in Korea, Desert Storm and a place called Vietnam.
      When I learned how our Vietnam Veterans were treated, I was very sad and wanted to do something to help. I became a member of Operation Just Cause and adopted eight Vietnam Veterans who never came home.  Every Veteran is a Hero to me and we owe every person who has ever served this country our very freedom, a freedom which did not come cheaply.
      To show my Heroes how much they mean to me, I have a web site dedicated to all Veterans and my POW/MIA's, I volunteered for seven days at The Moving Wall, I was proudly on the field at Three Rivers Stadium with the POW's who came home from World War II,  I participated in the 26 hour POW/MIA Vigil, at Point State Park, with the Vietnam Veterans, Inc. of Pittsburgh, I attend functions at the VA Centers with the VFW Post 5758, I visit the Veterans at the Southwestern Veterans Center and I am now an official member of the Vietnam Veterans, Inc. Because all of you are owed so much, even this doesn't seem to be enough.
      Even though I may not understand everything, I do understand that the torch of history must pass through me and my generation. Because of you, I am very proud to be an American and I am proud to carry the torch of our history to keep America strong and Free. I will never forget and I can never thank you enough."

This is me and Mr. Gantzer after the ceremony. He was the one that told the State Department about me!! The day was so special to me, I don't think that I could ever thank him enough!

After the meeting was over, they asked me to attend their fundraiser dinner for homeless Vets that evening and boy was I honored to be there!!!!!

This is me and the 31st District Commander Barry Dwire at the dinner. Everyone was so great to me and this day is something that I will always remember!!!!

Never in my life could I thank the American Legion for what they have done for me!!!! I met so many wonderful Veterans and the day was very special to me. Even though I was being honored for the things I have done, I had to honor the Veterans for protecting my freedom. Nothing I could ever do would be enough to thank them!!!!!

Make sure you visit the sites of District 33 (my own District) and District 15, they both have beautiful pages on my award!!!!!!
Thanks Weezie and Thanks Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!