American Legion Post 214 past Commander meets with first woman National Commander

WARWICK — It looks like the ladies are now in charge at the American Legion.
Frank Gilner, a U.S. Navy and Army Reserve veterans, is a past commander of Warwick's American Legion Post 214.
He recently had an opportunity to meet with Denise Rohan, the first woman elected as American Legion National commander.
Gilner, who rose in the ranks of the American Legion from Post 214 Commander to Orange County Commander, met with Rohan at a dinner held in her honor during the National Commanders Spring Visit to Eastern New York.
"It was an honor and a privilege to meet and speak with her," he said.
Rohan was elected national commander of the two million-member American Legion on Aug. 24, 2017, during the 99th national convention of America's largest veterans' organization.
The purpose of the visits are to participate in tours and luncheons during which members of posts in each county can meet with the American Legion leadership and showcase programming going on in individual communities.
Closer to home, Gilner reported that another woman, Rena Nessler, was just elected as commander of the American Legion Department of New York.
She is the first woman commander to hold this post in 99 years.
And in Warwick, Laura Smykla has held the position of Post 214 commander for the past three years.
However, she will soon be stepping down and turning over the reins to the new commander, Jerry Schacher.
- Roger Gavan