Naperville American Legion Post 43 presented their first Citizen of the Year award in 1976. It became an annual award in 1986. The Naperville Community is blessed with many people who serve their fellow citizens. Those selected must be Naperville residents whose service was performed in a volunteer capacity, rather than as part of compensated employment. In April of 1988 Vern Blum was named American Legion Post #43 Citizen of the Year
Vern was 40th Commander of American Legion Post 43, 1959-1960 and the County Commander of the DuPage County Council in 1987. Vern tracked and recorded the location of every veteran's grave site in Naperville so that the Post could decorate their graves for Memorial Day weekend. He personally assisted and supervised Veterans, Scouts, and Students in the placement of flags every year until the year he died. He worked with the Telephone Pioneers of America, repairing The Talking Book Machines for the Blind & Handicapped, and he also spoke to Naperville school children about his experiences as a radio repairman during World War II.
