The Butler County Veterans Affairs will honor Al Worsley as Veteran of Year at a luncheon this month.

The lunch will be held Saturday at American Legion Post 779 in Lyndora. The celebration is part of November Veteran and Military Families Month designated by President Donald Trump.

According to Veterans Affairs, Worsley was in the U.S. Air Force from May 1968 to June 1972 during the Vietnam War. His job was to service and maintain rocket ejection systems to allow pilots to safely eject from plane cockpits. His military occupation specialty code was an Aircrew Egress Systems Specialist.

“I was pretty surprised. I didn't even know that I was in the running,” Worsley said.

For more than 15 years, he has volunteered and held several lead positions in the veteran community. He has served as the vice president and president of the American Legion Riders between 2011 and 2013.

He went on to become the first vice president of Post 778 American Legion in Lyndora until 2016, when he was voted post commander. In 2018, he once again became the first vice president.

As a post member, he worked on a number of projects, including upgrading the post's Victory Room as well as making sure the post was updated with new paint, lighting and other upgrades.

“It's good for the soul,” Worsley said of his activities. “Tour of duty never ends. And my wife is also involved, so we do it together.”

Additionally, he also was committee chairman and lead volunteer for the Veterans In Need Program. He has served on the Memorial Day and Veterans Day committees and the Butler Community College Veterans Endowment Fund, to name a few.

Through many of his contacts, friendships and dedication to helping veterans in the community, he has secured large donations for the American Legion Post 778 and the American Legion Riders.

He has spent much of the past 15 years volunteering, holding lead positions and coordinating local projects,

“In the military, you have comradeship, and that carries over for years,” Worsley said. “It's your other family.”

The luncheon is $15 per plate. Those interested should call 724-284-5352.

Al Worsley