John Cyprian of the Veteran's Administration overlooks the World War II memorial in Butler’s Diamond Park that he helped to create. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

John Cyprian has filed more than 12,500 benefit claims for veterans who suffer from injuries, illnesses or disease resulting from their time in the armed forces.

But on Dec. 30, Cyprian retired from his post as the county’s director of veterans services after 25 years at the helm and five years before that working for the county’s former veterans services director.

“He has done a lot for the veterans. I can’t speak highly enough of him, ” said Bill McNutt, commander of American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora.

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