The article that follows is reprinted with permission of the American Legion.

A four-hour marathon session kicked off the 107th Annual Convention of the NYS American Legion on Thursday, July 17 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, formerly the Hotel Syracuse.

 Highlighting the initial moments was a standing ovation for two centenarians from the Greatest Generation of military men, as outgoing Department Commander Keith Koster introduced 102 year-old Addison Sheckler of Cato and 104 year-old Tony Pircio of Manlius.

Below: 104-year-old Tony Pircio with 2024-2025 Department Commander Keith Koster.

102-year-old Addison Sheckler

Sheckler was a master sergeant and technical expert on a U.S. Army Signal Corps team in Normandy following the D-Day Invasion of France in June of 1944.

Pircio was a captain who served in the 8th Air Force with the 7th Photo Reconnaissance Group in the Army Air Corps.  He served in both England and Northern France from 1941 to 1946.