McHenry man named AMVETS commander

Submitted by AMVETS Department of Illinois

Raleigh Showens of McHenry was elected the AMVETS State Commander for 2011-12 on June 11. Showens is an active member of Post 269 in Woodstock.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead the AMVETS Department of Illinois,” Showens said. “I am eager to represent this great organization, whose primary concern is the care of our nation’s heroes.”

Commander Showens spent two years in the Army as a Combat Medic, stationed at White Sands Missile Range. His service consisted of medic evacuations on hospital flights for the 4th Army.

A charter member of MCAV Post 269, Showens is a life member; he joined AMVETS in 1992. On a Department-level for the AMVETS, he has served as Commander of Districts I & II, as well as Provost Marshal, State Senior Vice Commander of Programs and State Senior Vice Commander of Membership.

Showens is an active member of many veterans’ organizations in the state of Illinois. In addition, he has been named Volunteer of the Year in McHenry County, as well as receiving a special commendation from the Army for volunteering for veterans in the community.

Showens is married, with five children and two grandchildren. He retired from Teamsters Local 330 after 32 years of service.

The AMVETS Department of Illinois has been an organization of veterans serving veterans since 1945. Illinois AMVETS has been at the forefront of community and veterans’ service for the state of Illinois. The goal is to improve the lives of the nation’s veterans and the communities they live in.