The Leland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12196 earlier this month elected officers for the coming year, according to a news release.

They include Gerald Decker as commander; Chris Mattiace as senior vice commander; Larry Dennis Jr. as vice commander; Jim Koslosky as quartermaster; Lou Tranzillo as chaplain; and Don Spaulding as three-year trustee. Michael Howe was appointed to return as the post service officer. 

These elected and appointed officers were given the oath of office by the incoming Department Commander for North Carolina Veterans of Foreign Wars Annie Cummings. The new officers' terms will begin July 1, the release stated.

Leland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12196 was chartered in January 2020. The post was selected as the Mayor’s Choice of Citizen of the Year for 2020 and has three consecutive years achieving the highest recognition of the VFW: All-American and All-State, the release stated.

According to the release, "Under the leadership of current Post Commander Nate Pringle, the post is again No. 1 in member gain for District 5 and among the leaders in North Carolina in member gain."