The election and swearing-in of Yermas and his officers to lead the Department of New York for the next year concluded the 97th state convention, held July 16-18 in Buffalo.
A native of Amsterdam, Yermas resides in the Town of Florida with his wife, Shirley.
The new state commander is a Vietnam War Army veteran. He served as an aircraft repairman with the 101st Aviation Unit in Hue Phu Bai, where he earned the nickname, Jungle Jim. After returning from his tour in Vietnam, he was an instructor at Fort Eustis, VA. Yermas is a retired General Electric machinist and former shop steward and assistant board member with UE-CWA Local 301.
A 47-year member of the American Legion, Yermas has held many key positions, including serving as commander of John J. Wyszomirski Post 701 in Amsterdam, Montgomery County Legion and 4th District Legion. He also has served as department vice commander and vice chairman of the National Security Council. He currently serves on the National Security Foreign Relations Subcommittee. He is a member of both the national and New York American Legion Press Associations.
