Nazario Named National Patriot of the Year

William “Willy” Nazario, chairman of the Cortlandt Hudson Valley Veteran’s Committee, has been named National Patriot of the Year by the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH).

Nazario received the honor in early August during the order’s national convention in Scottsdale, AZ.

Nazario attended the convention as this year’s MOPH Region I (northeast states) Patriot of the Year, an honor he received for his volunteerism and advocacy work. He was chosen for the national honor, presented during an evening banquet, through a secret ballot.

 “My wife and I were surprised and emotionally moved by the honor bestowed upon me by my peers of the MOPH,” said Nazario, who is junior vice commander of the MOPH New York Department.

Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi, who has worked closely with Nazario on veterans issues, praised the honoree.

“Congratulations to Willy Nazario, a Vietnam veteran, a purple heart recipient and now the 2012 Military Order of the Purple Heart Patriot of the Year, a well deserved tribute,” Puglisi said in a press release (please see attached PDF). She noted that she, Nazario and the committee had worked long and hard to prevent federal officials from downsizing the Veterans Affairs hospital in Montrose.

The convention attracted MOPH representatives from all 50 States, Puerto Rico and Guam.