Meet your new national commander

James W. “Bill” Oxford of North Carolina was elected to lead The American Legion for 2019-2020.

“…I am humbled beyond belief … to accept this nomination as your national commander,” said Oxford, who was elected on stage in the Indiana Convention Center during The American Legion’s 101st National Convention in Indianapolis Aug. 29. “Whatever this job is, I will do it to the best of my ability, but I can’t do it alone. I need everybody here on my team, helping us reach our goals and objectives. We are all stakeholders in this organization. We are the future of this organization.”

Oxford is a native of Lenoir, N.C., where he is a Paid Up for Life member and past commander of Post 29. During his military service, Oxford served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an aviation electronic technician for the A-6 Intruder and served in Vietnam during his initial enlistment. After being discharged as a sergeant in 1970, Oxford joined the North Carolina National Guard. He subsequently attended officer’s candidate school and transferred to the U.S. Army reserve where he retired as a colonel after more than 34 years of military service.

He has served as Department of North Carolina commander, as well as either chairing or being a part of several national American Legion commissions. He also is a former mayor and city council member of Cajah’s Mountain, N.C., and has served as the public address announcer for the Post 29 American Legion Baseball team.

During his remarks to the delegation Oxford reflected back on The American Legion’s 100 years of successes and accomplishments. He pointed out the Legion’s role in creating the original GI Bill, establishing the Department of Veterans Affairs, drafting the U.S. Flag Code and, most recently, gaining passage of the LEGION Act. Oxford highlighted the Legion’s relationship with the American Legion Auxiliary, the Sons of The American Legion and the American Legion Riders; pointed out ways the Legion supports youth through programs such as American Legion Baseball, Boys State and Boys Nation, Junior Shooting Sports, the Oratorical Contest, Youth Cadet Law Enforcement programs and Scouting; and applauded the Legion’s charitable funds, such as Operation Comfort Warriors, the National Emergency Fund, and the Veterans and Children Foundation, which have provided millions in financial support.

“All of these things we’ve talked about shows who we are, but it also shows what we do,” Oxford said.

Oxford said something else needed to increase membership is to raise the visibility of The American Legion. He wants posts to send out news releases before and after events, whether it’s a fish fry, baseball game or flag retirement ceremony.

“We all know what the Legion is and the value we have. But does everybody else? A photo, an article, a video, a blog. And use social media.”

Oxford then turned his focus toward the future. “The things we did yesterday, we do today and we will do tomorrow are building the foundation for the future of this organization,” he said. “And if we think about The American Legion’s policies, programs (and) efforts, we’ve got to consider what makes those programs work. Those programs work by the people who participate in them.”

Oxford said membership is the key to the Legion’s mission succeeding. He set goals of a 90-percent retention rate and adding 100,000 new members in 2019-2020, with a long-term goal of reaching 3.3 million members – the all-time high number set in 1946.

With the LEGION Act’s passage, “we need to recognize and pursue the 4.2 million veterans now eligible to become Legionnaires,” Oxford said.
“If we get everybody involved, we can gain 100,000 new members.”