2026-2027
American Legion
Department Commander

Thomas Schreck

Vietnam era veteran Thomas R. Schreck of Rochester, NY is the commander of The American Legion Department of New York.

His election and installation on July 18, 2026, capped the three-day Department Convention held at the Marriott Hotel Downtown Syracuse.

Enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1969, after high school, Schreck trained as a Signalman in Newport, RI and entered the Amphibious Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet in 1970 to serve onboard the USS San Marcus (LSD-25) and the USS Plymouth Rock (LSD-29) based in Little Creek, Virginia. He was deployed to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. He was honorably discharged from active duty in March 1974.

A member of Chili American Legion Post 1830 since 1989, Schreck has been in leadership roles at every level of the American Legion. He served as post, county, and district commander, as department vice commander, as delegate to the department and the national conventions and as a member of the National Security Sub-Committee. He is a charter member of the Chili Post Color Guard and a member of the Monroe County American Legion Honor Guard. He is also very active in the American Legion Boys State of New York since 2004. Schreck attended the American Legion College of New York in 2007 and has been an instructor since 2009.

After studying at Niagara County Community College and obtaining his associate degree in criminal justice in 1981, he went on to SUNY Brockport to continue his studies in criminal justice and sociology. While at SUNY Brockport he was recruited by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff. His duties included road patrol, warrant squad, crime scene investigation and airport security (during 911).

In December of 2003 Schreck retired from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and expanded his involvement in the American Legion. He has been involved in his Town of Chili as Traffic & Safety Committee member and town festival committee member.

Schreck’s sweetheart is Patricia Burchill, who is also on the honor guard and on the five-time National American Legion Lady Liberties Color Guard.

His other affiliations include the Forty and Eight, ANAVICUS, SOAR and ARPALER.

His military honors include National Defense Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal and induction into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame in the year 2020.

 

Department Commander Thomas Schreck has designated Boys State of New York  as his special project for 2026-2027.

For more information, click here.

Updated-7/22/2026