Veterans Center Wins Community Award

The Mechling-Shakley Veterans Center in Cownansville received a 2011 "Best of Cowansville" award from the U.S. Commerce Association. A plaque is to be displayed in the visitor entrance. (2011 KP File Photo)

by Jonathan Weaver

The Mechling-Shakley Veterans Center will be able to showcase their local efforts in a few weeks.

The veterans’ center was selected for a 2011 “Best of Cowansville” award in the ‘Community Organizations’ category as awarded by the U.S. Commerce Association, based in New York City. The award is dated December 6, 2011.

In a press release, commerce association said that various sources of information were used to determine award recipients in various categories and that the award is determined by service to local communities and quality, not quantity.

Veterans’ Center Executive Director Sean Taladay was shocked by the announcement.

“We didn’t know anything about it – it was a pleasant surprise,” Taladay said. “We’ve been working very hard, so it’s nice to be recognized as a whole staff – one person can’t do it; it takes the whole team.”

Even though he said the staff has been working diligently, Taladay does not know the third-party organizations that nominated the organization.

“We didn’t seek it out – somehow it found us,” Taladay said.

As of Veteran’s Day, approximately 64 veterans utilized services at the center. A plaque is to be displayed in the visitor entrance to showcase the award.