Naperville Legion Names Three As Citizens of the Year

NAPERVILLE LEGION NAMES THREE AS CITIZENS OF THE YEAR

Since 1986 Naperville American Legion Post 43 has annually recognized a Naperville citizen for extraordinary service. The program was expanded to include three categories in 2014.

The 2015 Citizens of the Year are:

Tracey Cowart for Service to the Community: Tracey works a multitude of programs for the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, Grace Pointe Church, and St. Baldrick's Indie Bound event. She organizes and executes monthly collections for various causes including Operation Support Our Troops, Loaves and Fishes Pantry, DuPage Public Acton to Deliver Shelter, the Walk to Defeat ALS, the Naperville Humane Society and Wayside Cross Ministries, in which 1100 coats were collected and donated.

Wayne Fischer for Service to Veterans: He is past Commander of Naperville American Legion Post 43, DuPage County and 11th District, and incoming Commander of the 2nd Divisiion. From major events recognizing the service of WW II and Korean era veterans, the upcoming Department of Defense - 50th Anniversary of Viet Nam Commemoration, recognition of Blue Star families, Poppy Days, Post Officer recruitment, monthly dinners and serving as a trustee, and honoring deceased veterans, there is simply no activity in Naperville Post 43 to which he has not contributed. He is also a dedicated, active member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 3873, serving as a trustee and chair of the Lenten Fish Fry Fund Raiser among many other contributions.

Steve Mazzarella for Service to Youth: As a respected and loved teacher and diving coach at Naperville North High School Steve's life work involved youth. But the Legion honors him for what he did outside the classroom. He touched student's lives by believing in them, by pouring time and energy into those who struggled, by caring about their outside activities and connecting to their real-life situations. This was powerfully demonstrated by his deep involvement in Operation Snowball, a teen led substance abuse prevention program he mentored for over 20 years. His tireless energy, enthusiasm, ideas and belief in the teens made him a compelling positive influence on them.