Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly recently honored Huntington Station resident and American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244 Commander Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Donna Boyle as the Legislative 17 District Honoree for the inaugural Suffolk County Women Veterans Appreciation Day.
First, during the ceremony held via Zoom on June 12 and then at the July 8 socially-distanced, well-attended first meeting conducted by the American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244 since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Legislator Donnelly recognized and thanked CSM Boyle for her military service. CSM Boyle joined the United States Army in 1978 under the GI Bill, ultimately earning a Civil Engineering degree. She served as a Field Artillery Surveyor from 1978 to 1986, a Survey Party Chief in an Engineer Brigade and as the First Sergeant of a Combat Heavy Engineer unit from 1986 to 2003. She served as an instructor and the Sergeant Major of a training unit from to 2003 until her retirement in 2007.
CSM Boyle received the “Legion of Merit” in 2007, a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. Amongst numerous other awards she received were a meritorious service medal, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal and Kuwait Liberation Medals from both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
“It was a pleasure to honor and thank CSM Boyle for her service to this country and to her community,” said Legislator Donnelly. “She is truly deserving of this honor and I look forward to continue working with her and the American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244.”