It’s an opportunity to spend a special evening honoring two great commanders.

The National Commander and Department Commanders Dinner will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the American Legion Shoemaker-Haydt post #314 in Lehighton.

National Commander Vincent J. Troiola and Department Commander Craig Wilhelm will be at the Shoemaker-Haydt Post 314 in Lehighton.

Kevin “Spike” Long, Adjutant of American Legion Post #314 in Lehighton, said, “It gives a lot of recognition for our post. We’re going to have state and national people here, get some insight from other veterans.”

Glenn “Smokey” Troutman, Commander of American Legion Post #314 in Lehighton, said, “It’s an honor for us to host. They got their choice of anywhere they wanted to go.”

National Commander Vincent J. Troiola

Troiola was elected national commander of the nation’s largest veterans organization on Sept. 1, in Milwaukee during The American Legion’s 103rd national convention. His theme as national commander is “V.E.T.S., Veterans, Education, Teamwork, and Sponsor.”

A life member of American Legion Post 1682 in Rockland County, New York, Troiola served in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves from 1969 to 1974. He completed a tour abroad the USS Nitro, an auxiliary ammunition ship with the Sixth Fleet. He was honorably discharged as a boatswain’s mate third class. Troiola is also a member of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 1682 based on the World War II service of his father.

Troiola spent his working career in the automotive service industry, where he began as a parts manager at a local Chevrolet dealership and went to serve in many capacities of management. At the time of his retirement in 2017, he was director of service and parts at a New York Metro Mercedes-Benz dealership. After a brief time at home, Troiola began an entirely new career as a school bus driver for the Falmouth School District, and part-time motor coach operator.

He served in many offices and chaired commissions at every level of The American Legion. Troiola was elected department (state) commander of New York for 2010-2011 and served on several national commissions, including the National Security Commission, Legislative Commission, Veterans Employment and Education Commission and the Membership and Post Activity Committee. Troiola was elected national vice commander for 2016-2017.

Troiola married his wife, Saveria in 1973. They have two daughters, Laura and Jeanette; a son-in-law, Michael; and three grandchildren, Alexander, Abigail and Natalia. The Troiola’s include three generations of American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of the American Legion membership.

He lives in Maine to be close to his daughter and his grandchildren, while still being within driving distance to the Department of New York.

Craig A. Wilhelm, Department Commander

Wilhelm was born and raised in Sellersville in a family of one sister and one brother.

After graduating from Pennridge High School in 1961, he attended classes at Temple University in Philadelphia and graduated from Lansdale School of Business with a degree in business.

In 1964, Wilhelm was drafted into the U.S. Army, and completed his basic and AIT training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

After training, he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, as a company clerk at Scofield barracks, Hawaii, and after serving seven months in Hawaii, the unit shipped out for Cu Chi, Vietnam.

Wilhelm served more than 10 months in Vietnam as a company clerk in an infantry company and earned several citations including the combat infantry badge, Vietnam service medal, Vietnam campaign ribbon, national defense ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and the Army commendation medal.

After being discharged from the Army, he worked as an insurance agent for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and in 2010, retired from the Borough of Sellersville as the Operator of the Borough Water System after 37 years.

Wilhelm has always been active in his community as a member of the Sellersville Fire Department, and served in numerous offices including department chief.

He has served as the emergency management coordinator for the Borough of Sellersville for more than 30 years.