National commander of American Legion to speak at Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The commander of the largest veteran/patriotic organization in the United States is visiting Southeast Missouri.

Dan Dellinger, national commander of the American Legion, will have breakfast with members of American Legion Post 114 at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. According to Post member Blair Moran, Dellinger will make some brief remarks to those attending the event and the Post members will make a presentation.

In addition to the stop at Sikeston, Dellinger will visit other American Legion posts in the area and tour the Missouri Veterans Cemetery and Stars and Stripes Museum at Bloomfield, Mo.

"He is a goodwill ambassador for the American Legion and its more than 2.4 million members," said Moran. "He is very concerned about how veterans are treated, especially their benefits, and is a strong advocate of our active forces to ensure they are properly treated and get all the help they need in fighting the war in Afghanistan."

Moran urged local post members to attend Sunday's event.

Elected national commander of the American Legion on Aug. 29 in Houston, during the 95th national convention, Dellinger became an Army Infantry officer after graduating with a degree in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He served at Fort Benning, Ga., during the Vietnam War and entered the U.S. Army Reserve in 1972, separating from the service in 1984 at the rank of captain.

A member of the Dyer-Gunnell American Legion Post 180 in Vienna since 1982, he was made a life member in 1990. He has served as post, district and department commander and chaired numerous committees.

At the national level, he chaired the legislative, national security and economics commissions as well as the Aerospace Committee. He served as chairman of the Legislative Council and Membership and Post Activities Committee as well as serving as a member of the Foreign Relations Council, Policy Coordination, Veterans Planning and Coordinating committees and the Legislative Council.

Dellinger is a member of the Sons of the American Legion, Past Commanders and Adjutants Club, Past Department Commander's Club, ANAVICUS and the Citizens Flag Alliance. He has served as a presidential appointee on the Federal Taskforce on SBA Hiring and as vice mayor of the town of Vienna, Va., as well as serving three terms as town councilman. He is a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose and the Loyal Order of the Kentucky Colonels.

For 20 years, he owned and operated a construction management and general contracting firm specializing in commercial, institutional and industrial construction.

Dellinger and his wife, Margaret, reside in Vienna. Mrs. Dellinger served as American Legion Auxiliary Unit 180 president for four years; daughter, Anne, is a 23-year member of Unit 180; and son, Scott, is a 28-year member of Sons of The American Legion Squadron 180.