By Jo Chiparo Legionaire of the Year Frank Marcottte, at left, receives his award from Mike Brinson.

The highlight of the annual dinner, as always, was the surprise awards for Citizen of the Year, which was presented to Tracy Keen, and Legionnaire of the year, which went to Frank Marcotte.

The main speaker was Department Commander Thomas Sommerville of Hammond.

By Jo Chiparo Tracy Keen, at left, was named the Citizen of the Year by American Legion Post No. 22. She is posed with Jerry Ward , first vice commander of Post 22 and vice commander of the 7th District of Indiana.

In presenting the Citizen of the Year Award, Jerry Ward, first vice commander of Post 22 and vice commander of the 7th District of Indiana, said, "Tracy is very deserving of the award. She does a lot for the community and is always there to help when help is needed."

Ward added that when he and other city workers went to help Bloomfield after the recent tornado, the first person he saw sitting on a tractor cleaning debris was Keen.

"And you can be sure every spring on Pride Day, Tracy is there helping clean up Linton."

Active in civic affairs, Keen has served as president of Linton Chamber of Commerce where she is still on the executive board. She is past president of the Linton Rotary Club and is currently serving on its board.

Keen also donates time each day walking dogs for the Greene County Humane Society.

"If it weren't for the girls in the office who let me run loose, I couldn't spend much time volunteering," noted Keen, who is a State Farm agent.

Keen added that she might not donate a lot monetarily but she can always donate her time.

Speaking of World War II veteran Frank Marcotte, Ward said he is "an all-around legionnaire" and is presently chaplain for Post 22 and a member of the honor guard.

"He is on the funeral detail and goes out in all kinds of weather," Ward noted. "And if you want him to help cook all you have to do is call, whether it is for the early bird breakfast, Christmas or Thanksgiving. He has done a lot for the post."

In his brief talk, Sommerville gave kudos to Post 22 for its remarkable work including the 1,500 flags placed on veteran's graves on Memorial Day and scholarships awarded each spring to Linton-Stockton High School seniors.

"Legionnaires do make a difference," Sommerville explained. "There are three million legionnaires and it's the fastest growing and largest veteran's organization."

Honoring Sommerville for his many years of work in the American Legion, members of Post 22 presented him with a $500 check made out to his favorite charity, the Child Welfare Organization.