Fulcomer will lead Legion in OC
Photo By Tom Rivers – Paul Fulcomer, right, was sworn in Tuesday as the new commander of the American Legion in Orleans County. He is joined by outgoing commander John Hucknall, left, and Al O’Donnell, the commander of the 8th District in WNY.
MEDINA – The 633 members of the American Legion in Orleans County have a new leader: Paul Fulcomer.
He is no stranger to local veterans. The Vietnam War veteran serves as the county’s director of the Veterans Service Agency. Fulcomer was sworn in as new commander on Tuesday, replacing John Hucknall of Albion.
Hucknall praised the group of Legion leaders for continuing to work on behalf of veterans in the county.
“Teamwork is what does it,” he said at the Butts Clark Post in Medina. “Without teamwork, you can’t move one darn inch.”
The local Legion leaders were joined by Al O’Donnell, commander of the 8th District, which includes 162 posts and 120,000 Legion members in eight counties, with some members in Canada.
O’Donnell of West Seneca said the Legion needs to remain active in the local communities, and reach out to new veterans.
“There’s an old phrase, ‘Numbers talk,’” he said. “If we drop in numbers, the government won’t listen to us.”
The Legion was a strong force in securing the GI Bill for soldiers, allowing them to go to college, he said.
“We’re trying to talk to the young people about the American Legion and the things that we do for them,” he said. “We’re here to help them and make sure they’re taken care of.”
