Massachusetts Veteran elected leader of the American Legion

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A U.S. Army Vietnam veteran from Achicopee, Mass., has been elected national commander of the nation's largest veterans organization.

Delegates to The American Legion's 88th National Convention here chose Paul A. Morin to lead the 2.7 million-member organization of wartime veterans for a one-year term.

A member of the Aldenville American Legion Post 337, Morin has served in many leadership roles during his 33-years as a member of The American Legion.

He served as state commander of The American Legion in Mass., a member of national commissions including Children and Youth, Foreign Relations, Public Relations and Convention. He chaired the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, as well as the Legislative and Employment Commissions and served on the Legislative Council and Commission.

Morin was director of the Chicopee Municipal Employees Credit Union and a past member of the Chicopee Memorial and Patriotic Committee, the B.P.O.E. Lodge no. 61 and Knights of Columbus Council no. 69. Most recently, he served as Superintendent of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, responsible for fulfilling the Home's mission of providing quality medical, surgical and skilled nursing, domiciliary and outpatient care for its veterans. He will be on a one-year leave of absence during his year as national commander.

In 2001, Morin was honored by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony J. Principi, with the Secretary's Award for his service to our nation's veterans while President of the National Association of State Veterans Homes. In 2002, he was awarded Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Sampson World War II Navy Veterans and in 2004, he received the "Outside Award" from the Massachusetts Veterans Service Officers Association.

Morin took the oath of office along with five other national officers. Serving as national vice commanders are Byron W. White of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Elgin L. Wahlborg of Arkansas City, Kan.; Robert L. Lahiere, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Alan Setterberg, Sandy, Utah; and Lloyd Hazen Woods, Stockholm, Maine.

National Historian Michael J. Miskell of Scranton, Pa.; National Sergeant at Arms Joseph Steen of Wilmington, Mass.; and National Chaplain Stanley (Stan) Gruneich, of Flandreau, S.D., were appointed to their positions by Morin following the close of the national convention.