On Saturday, Dianne Ritchey was installed, along with other new officers, to lead American Legion Post 10. One of Florida’s oldest American Legion Posts now has its first female Commander.
The post has been chartered since June of 1919, less than a year after the end of World War I, the 10th post established in the state. As the first female post commander, Ritchey has some fresh ideas on guiding the post going forward.
“I hope to encourage younger members to join by having more activities for families and I would like for all of volunteers to feel appreciated,” Ritchey said. “If there are any suggestions for improvement or new ideas, I would welcome them.”
Ritchey hails from the suburbs of Philadelphia in south New Jersey. Enlisting in 1976 as Army military police officer, where she said she worked in the Traffic Division, investigating accidents, processing drunk and impaired individuals, running radar and assisting on domestic incidents. After three years as an MP, she went to work for the Federal government as a budget analyst and also joined the Army Reserves as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the personal department for the 97th Army Reserve Command.
She moved to Kissimmee with her family in 2015, but lost her husband of 37 years to cancer in 2019. She has two adult sons, and both her husband and sons are military veterans as well. One son, on active duty with the Air Force, was able to attend the ceremony with his family, including Ritchey’s grandson.
“I am very proud of my two sons,” she said.
Ritchey has previously held leadership positions on the House Committee, including serving as the committee chair, and then later as the Post Finance Officer for several years, right up until her election as Commander.
The Kissimmee Legion Post contributes volunteers and funds to numerous organizations and causes throughout Osceola County and Central Florida, including the Help Now domestic violence shelter, and sponsors the Kissimmee Police and Fire Departments’ annual St. Baldrick’s event for child cancer research.
“We also support several of the Kissimmee area high school Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs, especially funding items like competition trophies for which there are no program funds available,” Ritchey said.
Other supported organizations include the Fischer House, located near the Orlando Veterans Affairs Hospital in Lake Nona, which provides lodging and other service for the families of veterans receiving treatment at the VA hospital.
“Our most important asset in America is our young and we need to encourage every one of them to be their best,” she said. “We donate funds to different organizations in addition to being available to veterans for emotional support.”
Each Legion post consists of four groups: the veteran members of the Legion; the Auxiliary of member spouses; the Sons of the Legion, who are children of Legion members; and the Legion Riders, motorcycle enthusiasts within the organization who support charitable works through fundraisers and as volunteers.
For more information on American Legion Post 10 Kissimmee, go to: https://www.facebook.com/
