Dennis Hill received five awards from American Legion Post 54 in Wiscasset on Monday, July 17, the greatest being his installation as a statewide Honorary Post Commander for Life.

“It threw me for a loop,” said Hill, who served as a U.S. Air Force sergeant from 1972 to 1976.

The 1972 Wiscasset High School graduate has been active in the Bradford-Sortwell-Wright Post 54 for the last 44 years and has served as its Adjutant and Finance Officer for the last 20 years.

“He has been responsible for all the paperwork,” said Post Commander William Cossette on Tuesday. Cossette said Hill also took on much of the reconstruction of the Legion Hall in Wiscasset over the last 10 years.

“He is responsible for the roof, windows and doors,” said Cossette.

Following his military service, Hill took on several jobs including work at Bath Iron Works, security at the Maine Yankee power plant, plumbing and heating and finally, carpentry. He has had to give up most physical labor due to a number of physical problems.

He and his wife, Cindy, continue to run the Harbor Bait Shop and Green Acres Christmas Tree Farm in Edgecomb.

Hill considers his state certificate as a very significant award.

“It is very rare,” he said in an interview at his home in Edgecomb on Tuesday.