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Local veteran wins VFW Service Officer of the Year award

The Star Democrat - 6/16/2017

EASTON - Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5118 in Easton recently presented a VFW Service Officer of the Year award to Preston Younker.

"He is a true asset to our post and our veterans," said Mike Johnson, commander of VFW Post 5118. "It is an incredible honor to have him been recognized for his self-dedication and perseverance."

Younker was up against service officers from 16 districts and 74 posts from across the state of Maryland. The award recognizes Younker as No. 1 in the state for his efforts and dedication in assisting veterans and family members with the filing of claims and processing paperwork for benefits.

"It is the first time someone from our post has received this honor," Johnson said. "It shows that Younker is a top performer."

Younker is the post's service officer, and Johnson said he is a dedicated man they are proud to have at the post.

As a service officer, Younker has several responsibilities to his post and its members, including filing new claims for compensation or benefits, and following up on the status of those claims.

In addition, Younker helps veterans reopen old claims for service-connected disabilities and complete the required Veterans Affairs forms.

He also can aid veterans and family members to appeal denied claims, along with helping veterans with research and advice, if they want to handle their claim on their own.

Another important job of a service officer is helping with inquiries regarding medical, death, burial and other benefits available to veterans and their families.

Johnson said it is a job that requires a lot of research, dedication and perseverance, all of which Younker demonstrates.

In addition to being the service officer for the post, Younker is a lieutenant in the fire department for Anne Arundel County. He also is a paramedic and Navy veteran.

Johnson said Younker is a dedicated to helping others any way he can.

"A service officer's prime focus is to help veterans and their families," Johnson said. "By him being honored it shows he is doing his job to the fullest."

Johnson said there were several posts that may have done one report, five reports or even 50, but Younker had completed somewhere in the hundreds.

"This is what makes him stand out," Johnson said. "He went over and above."

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