Department 1st Vice President
Maureen F. Morgan
Email: nyalamembership@gmail.com
Department 1st Vice President Biography
Maureen is a 9-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary; Maureen recently re-activated the Moscarella Unit 199 and is a charter member through the eligibility of herself as a United States Navy Veteran from the Lebanon/Grenada War.
Maureen’s leadership roles began at the Unit level as the Secretary, County level as a County President from 2016 to 2023 and the Rockland County Girls State Chairperson. Maureen has held District 9 Vice and President Positions from 2017 to 2021. Holding positions of Membership Chair as Vice President; as District President she held positions of Education managing all the National, Department and Sons Scholarships, and Legislative Chair. As the outgoing 9th District President, she was honored to have been appointed as the Convention Chairperson for the 2020 -2021 Department Convention that was held in person and virtually for the first time in history. She also has held the position of Americanism and attended Empire Girls State in July as the Americanism Auxiliary Instructor. As the 2nd Vice President Maureen held the Position of VA&R Chair and received the 17th District Congressional Veteran of the Year 2023 from Congressman Michael Lawler.
As a proud Veteran Maureen is a 25-year member of the American Legion Moscarella Post 199 in Spring Valley. As a member of the Post, she held the positions as the Post Adjutant and newsletter chairperson from 2002 – 2011. She became the Boys State Chairperson along with the Post Scholarship Program that is held in the East Ramapo Central School District. Maureen received numerous awards as the first female active Veteran in Rockland County. Maureen became the first female Post and County Commander in 2012 -2016.
Maureen is married to Clarence (Ike) Bosford who is the Detachment SAL Historian for the Department of New York and is the Past Detachment 3rd and 4th Department Vice Commander of the Sons of the American Legion Lake George Post 374. She two sons, her oldest son is also a Navy Veteran having served in Iraqi Freedom. Both sons, daughter in law, and grandsons are all members of the American Legion Family.
Department 2nd Vice President
Lora A. Rowe
Email: nyalaVAandR@gmail.com
Department 2nd Vice President Biography
Lora has been a proud member of the Sherburne American Legion Auxiliary, Unit #876 in Chenango County for 35 years. Her eligibility is through her father, Anthony (Tony) Annesi, a WWII veteran. Both her father and mother, Ruth, were long-time family members.
Lora has served as an officer and a committee chairman on a variety of levels. Sherburne Unit #876 – President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership, Chaplain, and Parliamentarian; Chenango County- President, Secretary, and Sergeant-At-Arms; Sixth District President, Vice President, Secretary, Sergeant-At-Arms (twice), Membership, and Jr. Activities; and Department of New York – 3rd Vice President. Lora believes in the importance of committees and has had the pleasure of being the Chairman of many for both Sherburne Unit #876 and Chenango County.
Lora was appointed Department of New York’s Community Service Chairman in 2015 and in 2023 she was appointed Department of New York’s Children and Youth Chairman.
At the virtual 2021 Mid-Winter Leadership Conference, Lora was a presenter on Duties of the Unit President. And, at the 2022 in-person Mid-Winter Leadership Conference, Lora presented on Be a Beacon: The Future is Bright, which detailed leadership opportunities within the American Legion Auxiliary.
For both the 2020 and the 2022 Department Conventions, she was the Candidates Reception Chairman and was Co-Chairman for the State Dinner, with her being the Master of Ceremonies for the 2022 dinner.
Lora serves on the New York State Governor-appointed Board of Visitors for the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford, NY and currently holds the office of Secretary.
After 40 years of employment at Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, Lora retired in April, 2024. Lora and her husband of 34 years, Thomas, who is a SAL member, reside in Norwich.
Department 3rd Vice President
Yvonne Brunner
Email: nyalachildrenandyouth@gmail.com
Department 3rd Vice President Biography
Yvonne is a member of the Lynbrook Unit 335 in Nassau County. She has earned her eligibility through the service of her father who served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict and through the service of her Legionnaire husband Joesph A. Brunner Jr. who served his country as a Naval Corpsman for 24 years.
Yvonne has demonstrated her commitment to the mission of our organization by serving on all committees from the Unit, County and District levels. Yvonne understands the importance of mentoring our members. She has initiated many Unit and one-to-one sessions on the roles and responsibilities of various committees as well as leadership duties.
On the Unit/County level she successfully hosted fundraisers, purchased home appliances for a communal home for veterans, assisted with preparing meals for homebound veterans. She partnered with local businesses to get new toys for children in a local medical center. She fundraised to send military children on a one a one-week camping experience geared to counseling their emotional needs.
She has served as the Department of New York’s Historian as well as last year’s Chair and host of the State Dinner at Westchester County. On the National level she served as a member on the National Constitution & Bylaws Committee and served as a two-year member of the National Historian Committee.
Yvonne is now retired and lives with her husband Joe of 37 years, they reside on Long Island. They have two daughters and one grandson.