2011 - 2012
DEPARTMENT COMMANDER W. Michael Bowen

Commander Bowen is al life long resident of Waterloo, NY. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1967 at the age of 17. He served from 1967 til 1971 in Europe and the Mediterranean area with the Naval Security Group as a top secret radioman intercept operator. He is a 43 year life member of Warner-Van Riper Post 435, Waterloo, NY. In 2007 he was named Humanitarian of the Year for the 7th District American Legion. In 2010 he was named a Gold Brigadier and the Department of New York Recruiter of the Year, in 2011 he was named Silver Brigadier. On Saint Patrick's Day, for the past 27 rears, Mike has gone around the village area raising funds and donating them to the less fortunate and other charities. He attends the Grace Community Church, Hayts Corners. He is a member of the Special Committee for the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery. He is a self employed and the owner of a local general contracting business. Mike and his wife Patty have four children, Jonathan, Brandi, Lori, and Jenny Sue, one grandchild, Brandan Michael and three step grandchildren, Alex, Ian, and Brett.