When Sylvia Spagnolo was sworn in as commander of the American Legion Post 329 in Elizabethtown, she made history. Spagnolo became the first female commander of the post, located at 240 N. Hanover St., Elizabethtown. In her new position, she's working hard on another kind of history - making sure the service of veterans is never forgotten.

Spagnolo was active in the U.S. Air Force from 1985 to 1996, serving during Operation Desert Storm. Born and raised in Dauphin County, she moved back to central Pennsylvania in 2016, when she joined Post 329. Spagnolo is a registered nurse who provides home health care to residents in Lancaster County, and she also provides part-time real estate services with Berkshire Hathaway in Elizabethtown. She was sworn in as commander in August during a monthly post meeting, with chaplain Craig Kauffman of American Legion District 10 officiating.

Joining the local American Legion - the country's largest veterans service organization - was a priority for Spagnolo and her husband, Philip Wise, who is a retired Marines officer.

"The American Legion does a lot for our veterans and a lot for the community, which was important to me," Spagnolo noted. "Locally, they participate in events like the Memorial Day parade, provide service to the VA hospital and raise money for local organizations. I enjoy the community of the club and being around other veterans."

As commander, Spagnolo envisions overseeing the continued success of the post. "I think of the commander as the person who steers the ship," she said. "I see my job as working with multiple people on the executive board, who all have different responsibilities, and helping to take the Legion in the direction it needs to go." She will also oversee various committees within the organization, including fundraising.

Although she's happy with the way things are running at the post now, she noted that she's looking forward to making any changes that may be needed to keep things operating efficiently. "There is always room for improvement," she stated. "I'm going to work hard to find out what those improvements could be and then work to make the post an even better place."

She's also focused on recruiting more people to join the Legion, and she emphasized that veteran status is not required for membership. People who have relatives who served may join as members of the Auxiliary or Sons of the American Legion. Still, she underscored that the organization is always looking to strengthen its roster with people who have served. "That is a big goal of mine - to get more vets to join," she said.

Spagnolo noted that she was nominated for the position of commander by others at the post and was voted into the role, a responsibility she doesn't take lightly. "I want to continue to support and honor our veterans in any way I can," she stated. "I want to help our post continue to give back to the community as well."