Commander Eugene Side is 15-year member of The American Legion being eligible from his service in the Marine Corps. Eugene has served on the Executive Committee of John B. Lyman American Legion Post 904 for 7 years as various Vice Commanders. He became Commander in 2021 after leading the post through much of Covid in the absence of the Post Commander. Eugene is the grandson of a previous Post Commander John Side who served in 1963. Eugene’s older brother Doug serves as 3** Vice Commander and Eugene’s son Liam was a Boys Stater and is currently enlisted in United State Marine Corps. Eugene possesses a leadership style that focuses on his post and community but understands his Post’s role and history as a leader in The American Legion. Eugene attends Jefferson County Caucuses but confesses he is ‘floor to floor – door to door Commander, whose priority is serving his post and community. He both encourages and supports Post 904 membership and officers to serve The American Legion in any way they choose to do so. Supporting things like the Department American Legion College, post 904 has 2 Auxiliary member alumni and 10 Legion member alumni of the NY DALC (5 currently serving). Post 904 has won National’s ‘Post Excellence Award’ in Eugene’s 2″* year as Commander, for 2023-2024 and in his first year as Commander Post 904 won Department awards for BOTH Children and Youth and Americanism (best post in their category). Eugene’s philosophy of avoiding saying “no” to any Legion family member who wishes to serve the 4 pillars, has led to the filling of previously empty post committees and the creation of new ones. The new Entertainment committee made up of members from all 3 families of the post put on a Comedy show in April 2023 to fund the post’s $1000 donation to the National’s Be the One campaign. Even more impactful it led to VA S.A.V.E. training being conducted at the post. When the Post’s community health and wellness committee put on the VA SAVE training, the Post invited Department Commander Dave Riley Sr. and his wife Laurie, to attend along with many other Legion and VFW posts, Senator Walczyk’s office, local businesses, not for profits and members of the community. Commander Riley was so impressed with the training and outreach he instructed his resolution committee to write a resolution encouraging other American Legion posts to do the same. Commander Riley also brought the VA SAVE training to his convention and modeled it for a large group of Legion family there. That resolution would pass at National and more and more posts are bringing VA SA raining into their post homes. Commander Side hosted the current Department Commander Tim Collmer to the post home 3 separate times this year. Once during visitation, once during a buddy check outreach and once to swear in the Post and Sons officers at installation. Commander Side supports the MANY programs and outreaches of the post by both supporting the committees and empowering them to manage their own programs. Eugene shows leadership in unique ways, like being ‘the Grinch” during the post’s Christmas in July event and children’s parties at the post. The Law-and-Order committee’s fund raising and promotion of giving SAL comfort dogs to “children in crisis”. He will tell you; it is successful because the post’s relationship with local police and emergency personal. Eugene is always the first person to share credit or defer a compliment to a member of the ‘Family instead of himself. He is the first one to tell you it’s our TEAM that serves and he is proud of all of their efforts. His job is to make sure the post supports them all and find new ways, new members and new leaders to set those priorities.