Martha (Marti) Bigbie was elected as a national vice commander of The American Legion during the 107th National Convention in Louisville, Ky., on Sept.3, 2026.
Bigbie graduated from Aberdeen High School in South Dakota and served in the Air Force from 1967 to 1973. She was part of the 2nd flight of women to join the Air Force who were not required to be in the medical field. After attending personnel school in Amarillo, Texas, her duty assignments included Westover, AFB, in Springfield, Mass., Wheeler, AFB, in Hawaii and Bolling AFB in Washington.
Bigbie is a paid-up-for-life (PUFL) Legionnaire and a member of Post 142 in SunRiver, Utah. Since joining The American Legion in 2007, Bigbie has served as a member of the Ritual Team, chaplain and baseball chairman, 2014-2022. She also was elected or appointed to various offices at every level including commander of Lester Keate Post 90, St George, Utah; commander and adjutant of District 7; Area 4 commander; Department (state) of Utah sergeant-at-arms, vice commander and commander. She served as a counselor at Utah Boys State and as a member of the National Emblem Sales Committee. She has been The American Legion National Membership Recruiter of the Year in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 and 2026. She has also been Department Commander of the Year and Department Membership Recruiter of the Year. She received one Silver and eight Gold Brigade awards for recruiting.
Bigbie is a life-member of ANAVICUS, the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Vietnam Veterans of America; Military Women’s Memorial; US Air Force Women Veterans Association, Veterans Advisory Council VA – Salt Lake City; Utah Veterans Advisory Council; Veterans Coalition of Southern Utah; Southern Utah Veterans Home Advisory Board in Ivins. She was Legionnaire of the Quarter in 2015 and Legionnaire of the Year 2012, 2015, 2021-2022 for post and 2016-2017 for District 7. Bigbie received the William Christoffersen Award in 2021 Department of Utah, the Lifetime Achievement for Veterans Advocacy in 2022, and a Certificate of award for women in American History (DAR) for work with veterans in 2023. She also received many Post Excellence awards (8 years) and pins for membership from national commanders.
Bigbie says she lives by the motto, “Let no veteran or family member be forgotten.”
