A veteran of VFW McCullough-Mixson Post 4209 Ocala has won the top award for feature articles in the 2023 Veterans of Foreign Wars National Publications Contest.
Michael P. Mauer, a Desert Storm veteran, won the Grand Award for his article, ‘VFW Motorcycle Riders.’ The submission appeared in the August 2022 edition of the South Hills – Mon Valley Messenger, and placed first in competition after a judges’ review by two non-VFW affiliated journalism professionals.
Mauer wrote the article while assigned as the VFW PA District 29 public affairs officer. This is his fourth VFW writing award in seven years.
Mauer has written scores of articles about the VFW and veterans over the last three decades. These stories have been printed in local, regional and state-wide publications. Last year, Mauer won the Bronze Award and in 2020, the Silver Award for best feature article in the VFW National Publications Contest. In 2016, he earned the Grand Award. He has been a life member of the VFW since 1995. He has also received citations for his work over the years with the VFW from both the Pennsylvania State Senate and the House of Representatives. Also, he was appointed a VFW National Aide-De-Camp in 2006.
He is a member of Military Veterans in Journalism.
A Bethel Park Pennsylvania native, Mauer’s name is one of hundreds inscribed on the Veteran’s Memorial near the borough’s municipal building. He attended Bethel Park Senior High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from Point Park University in 1984.
Mauer won the Army’s highest journalism honor, the Keith L. Ware, in 1991. He was also awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf for his actions as a military reporter in Operation Desert Storm.
In 2010, Mauer was inducted into the Southwestern Pennsylvania Veterans Hall of Fame. He is also a graduate of the United States military’s Defense Information School, and the Field Artillery School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Mauer is employed with the United States government and currently lives in central Florida. He has been married to his spouse, Marsey, for 37 years. They have two daughters, Sarah and Rachel.
