Group photo of 1982-1983 National Vice Commanders (from left to right): Jack C. Plato of Oregon, Robert C. Gabrielson of South Dakota, H. Melvin Napier of Indiana, Margaret M. Malone of New Jersey and Leo O. Walker of Oklahoma. (American Legion Archives)

Online exhibit: American Legion leadership through 1999

The Emil A. Blackmore Museum is pleased to announce an update to its American Legion Past National Officers exhibit: an additional 30 years of national officers, from 1969 to 1999, have been added.

Each year, a new national commander and five national vice commanders are elected at The American Legion national convention to lead the nation’s largest wartime veterans organization. The other five national officers, appointed annually by the National Executive Committee, include the adjutant, treasurer, judge advocate, historian and chaplain. Historic photos and artifacts from the American Legion Archives show these officers through the years. Visitors will also be able to learn more about each national commander with a selection of documents from their time in office.

Further updates are planned for the exhibit at a later date. These will add past national officers through the first century of The American Legion. National sergeants-at-arms will be added later as well. In the meantime, other exhibits can be found at the Emil A. Blackmore Museum’s website.