New Wisconsin VFW commander is a Prairie du Chien native
Cory Geisler, a Prairie du Chien native and the new state VFW commander, made an appearance in the Eastman Fourth of July parade. (Photo by Correne Martin)
U.S. Army Veteran and Prairie du Chien native Cory Geisler was elected as Wisconsin’s VFW State Commander at its 100th State Convention on June 26.
Geisler served as a military police officer in Operation Iraqi Freedom from May 2007 to August 2008, during his seven years in the Army. He continued to serve in the Veterans of Foreign Wars in many positions, highlighted by earning All American honors as Post and District Commander. During his tenure as State Commander, the Hartland resident’s motto is “All the way together.”
Geisler said, “This means our organization will work together—from the posts, districts and council all the way to the State Commander. Taking care of Veterans is a team effort and we want to ensure that we have an avenue of support if things break down at any level. We also want to tell our story and, through social media, we want to leverage it, at all levels.”
A formal change of command ceremony was conducted at the Tundra Lodge in Green Bay with incoming National Commander, Matthew “Fritz” Mihelcic as the installation authority. Geisler replaces Jason Johns, who led the department since June of 2020 through the difficult era of COVID-19 and restrictions on gathering.
Geisler is the Department’s second Post-9/11commander. The VFW faces real challenges in the years to come and he has a full staff of veterans who will enable districts and posts to ensure all veterans are welcomed to the organization with the sole purpose of serving all veterans, military and their families in their communities and at the state and national capitols.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Wisconsin has 251 posts in 10 districts with over 26,000 members and 8,000 in its Auxiliary.
