Joe Frank will be a guest speaker Saturday, May 6, during a Loyalty Day celebration sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4223 and its Ladies Auxiliary at the post home, 214 Military Road.

Loyalty Day is a day set aside for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom. The celebration, slated from 1 to 4 p.m., is open to the public.

Frank, a Sunset Hills resident, was born and raised in Lemay and is a Army Vietnam veteran. While serving as a combat engineer with the 39th Engineer Battalion, a land mine explosion caused permanent disability.

He has been a member of the American Legion since 1968. He is an honorary life member and founder of Crestwood Memorial American Legion Post No. 777, now the Joseph L. Frank Post No. 777, renamed in memory of his father.

Frank has served in several leadership capacities for the American Legion on every level, including national vice commander, 1987 to 1988; chairman of the National Economic Commission, 1988 to 1993; and chairman of the National Foreign Relations Commission, 1993 to 1994. He also served as vice chairman of the National Legislative Commission, which he had been a member for nine years from 1979 to 1988. He also served as commander at the post, district and department levels in Missouri.

He was elected national commander of the American Legion at the close of its 78th National Convention on Sept. 5, 1996, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and currently is a consultant to the American Legion’s National Policy Coordination and Action Group and an adviser to the national commander.

An active member of several civic and veterans organizations, Frank is a former employee of the Veterans Administration, now the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

He is a 2003 recipient of the Missouri American Legion’s highest award — the Distinguished Service Award for having rendered dedicated and exceptional service to the state and nation.

A member of the Executive Board of the Jefferson Barracks Heritage Foundation, Frank was appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt as a commissioner of the Missouri Veterans Commission and currently serves as vice chairman.