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Top national American Legion officials will take part in parade
SIKESTON — Top national American Legion officials will participate in the 78th Annual American Legion Cotton Carnival Parade when it rides through town Oct. 1 in Sikeston.
Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola, national commander of the American Legion, will serve as parade marshal, while Vickie Koutz, national president of the American Legion Auxiliary, will serve as a special guest during the Sikeston American Legion’s annual Cotton Carnival Parade. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at the corner of Pine and Malone and travel west through downtown Sikeston.
Troiola was elected national commander of the nation’s largest veterans organization on Sept. 1 in Milwaukee during The American Legion’s 103rd national convention. His theme as national commander is “V.E.T.S., Veterans, Education, Teamwork and Sponsor.”
A life member of American Legion Post 1682 in Rockland County, New York, Troiola served in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves from 1969 to 1974. He completed a tour aboard the USS Nitro, an auxiliary ammunition ship with the Sixth Fleet. He was honorably discharged as a boatswain’s mate third class. He is also a member of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 1682 based on the World War II service of his father.
Troiola spent his entire working career in the automotive service industry, where he began as a parts manager at a local Chevrolet dealership and went to serve in many capacities of management. At the time of his retirement in 2017, he was director of service and parts at a New York Metro Mercedes Benz dealership. After a brief time at home, he began an entirely new career as a school bus driver for the Falmouth School district and part-time motor coach operator.
Troiola served in many offices at every level of The American Legion. He was elected department (state) commander of New York for 2010-2011, and chaired several national commissions include the National Security Commission, Legislative Commission, Veterans Employment and Education Commission and the Membership and Post Activity Committee. He was elected national vice commander for 2016-2017.
Troiola married his wife, Saveria, in 1973. They have two daughters, Laura and Jeanette; a son-in-law, Michael; and three grandchildren, Alexander, Abigail and Natalia. The Troiolas include three generations of American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of the American Legion membership.
Troiola currently lives in Maine to be close to a daughter and his grandchildren, while still being within driving distance to the Department of New York.
A member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 200 in Boonville, Indiana, Koutz has served several unit-, district- and department-level positions. Nationally, she has served as chair of the Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Poppy, Legislative, ALA Girls Nation, Membership, Constitution and Bylaws, Education, National Security, Children and Youth, and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation committees, and served as vice chair of Leadership, Community Service, and Junior Activities committees; member of Future Focus Committee, Strategic Planning Committee Ex-Officio member and American Legion Auxiliary Foundation Board of Directors designated director. A 48-year “Pay Up for Life” member of her unit, she has served as national vice president and National Executive Committee member.
Koutz’s husband, Jim Koutz, is a member of Post 200 and served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, and her son, Michael, is a charter member of Squadron 200.
Koutz graduated from Boonville High School and is a member of Baker Chapel United Methodist Church. Koutz retired from Fox and Lutz Law office as a legal assistant.