Members of the Vermont Department of the American Legion elected Orwell resident Catherine M. Tester as their commander this past June. She succeed Bristol’s Ronald LaRose of Post 19.  Salisbury’s Tom Scanlon of Post 27 in Middlebury was elected senior vice commander.

Tester, the department’s 101st commander, is a member of Legion Post 50 in Castleton and employed by Middlebury College.

Upon ascending to position, Tester told Vermont American Legion members that she would help them, together, to continue to uphold the traditions of the four pillars of the American Legion: Americanism, Children and Youth, Veterans Affairs, and National Security, as well as continue the organization’s commitment to service.

She promised to visit individual posts around the state. She was at Post 27 in Middlebury for the Sept. 11 commemoration, and at Post 14 in Vergennes for the Fall Conference in October.

Tester’s motto for the year is “Have a goal for tomorrow, a plan for today and remember the lessons of yesterday.”