Livingston County ‘Veteran of the Year’ & ‘Auxiliary Member of the Year’ for 2026 announced
The Livingston County Veterans Council proudly announces its 2026 ‘Veteran of the Year’ and ‘Auxiliary Member of the Year’. They are Don “Poppa” Lang of Howell American Legion Post 141 and Sheryl Pitt of the Pinckney American Legion Auxiliary Unit 419.
Don “Papa Don” Lang is a U.S. Army veteran whose decade of service included Vietnam intelligence operations, cryptography, instruction at the National Cryptology School, and high-level analysis of SR-71 and satellite imagery in Europe. Rising from enlisted soldier to commissioned officer, he carried that same leadership into a successful corporate career with Xerox, Canon, Panasonic, Voice Stream, and T-Mobile.
A lifelong champion of veterans and youth, he organized major international Legion and NATO events, earned the Order of King Leopold for supporting NATO families, and now serves as Americanism Chair for Post 141, leading oratorical, Boys State, ROTC, and West Point mentorship programs. Deeply active in local Chambers of Commerce and community service, he has been honored as Livingston County ‘Veteran of the Month’ and Post 141 ‘Vietnam Veteran of the Month’.
Sheryl Pitt was recognized for her exceptional fundraising—bringing in more than $10,000 each year through her steady 50/50 work at every Post function—combined with her hands-on service to Veterans and the community, from volunteering at the Moving Wall to supporting blood drives and maintaining memorials, makes her an invaluable member of Unit 419.
Rooted in a strong military family and shaped by her compassionate work with special-needs students, she extends that same spirit of service by involving her grandchildren, including a Junior member, in Auxiliary activities and modeling what true commitment to Veterans looks like.
Voted in by their peers, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Don “Poppa” Lang and Sheryl Pitt on this well-earned honor.
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