There’s a new commander in town

American Legion change ahead of memorial day events

Posted 5/25/23

Former Army 1st Sgt. Tim Heine has been elected to replace Russell Stafford as commander of American Legion Hughes-Pittinger Post 26 in Powell.

Heine served as a transportation specialist and …

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There’s a new commander in town

American Legion change ahead of memorial day events

Posted

Former Army 1st Sgt. Tim Heine has been elected to replace Russell Stafford as commander of American Legion Hughes-Pittinger Post 26 in Powell.

Heine served as a transportation specialist and recruiter for 21 years, starting his career with the U.S. Marines for four years prior to reenlisting with the Army. Originally from southern Illinois, Heine was stationed in Park County as a recruiter for several years. He and his family relocated to Powell after he retired from the armed services while stationed in Kansas.

“We fell in love with the area and had to come back,” Heine said during a Wednesday interview.

Both Heine and his wife, Alesha, are currently paraeducators for Park County School District 1. Tim is currently seeking a master’s degree and hopes to teach history and social studies after graduation. The couple has two children.

One of Heine’s first duties will be to oversee Memorial Day services by the post’s honor guard at Crown Hill Cemetery at 9 a.m. Monday and then a wreath-laying service at the post at 11 a.m.

The work starts for post veterans by marking each grave of a veteran buried at Crown Hill with an American flag. Boy Scout Troop No. 26 will assist in the task which begins Friday at 6 p.m.

Heine said it doesn’t matter how you celebrate the national holiday as long as you take time to remember those who gave their lives in service to America.

“It’s important to remember and honor the men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice and never made it home,” he said. “For some people, honoring those lost in service means going to ceremonies or cemeteries. For others, spending time outdoors with their family is the best way to remember those lost.”

Stafford said Heine “has the heart of a servant for all that the American Legion represents.”   Each year the commanders of the post provide a guidance for a special mission that falls into one of the American Legion’s four pillars, Americanism, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security and Children and Youth Services. Heine has dedicated his mission to helping and improving the lives of our communities youth. “Tim will be a leader who can help the local post to connect with our younger veterans and the needs of their families,” Stafford said. Stafford will continue as American Legion District Commander and is currently a candidate for vice commander for the state organization. He served as Post 26 commander for four years.

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