The newly elected National Commander of the American Legion, Mike Helm, will be in Hays on Tuesday morning as part of a statewide tour this week.

American Legion Department Commander Emery McKimmy will accompany Helm.

Helm, a native of Norcatur, will at the Hays American Legion Post No. 173 Sept. 16 for a breakfast meeting 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Helm also will be in Kensington, Atwood and Colby on Tuesday. Wednesday, he will make a stop in Great Bend.

A U.S. Army veteran during the Vietnam War, Helm served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, N.C., and earned his Ranger tab in 1972. He has been a member of Jack Helt American Legion Post 313 at Lebanon, Neb., since 1972.

Born in McCook, Neb., he grew up in Norcatur. He is a retired U.S. Postal Service rural mail carrier, with more than 33 years of service.

Helm served as commander of the Department of Nebraska from 1987 to 1988 and as a national vice commander from 2003 to 2004. He also served as the national commander’s representative to the National Legislative Commission, the chairman of the National Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission and the chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission.

Click HERE for Helm’s biography.