SAL National Commander Fox: ‘We need to be a united brotherhood’

The next national commander of the Sons of The American Legion emphasized teamwork as key to the program’s 2021-22 in his speech to the SAL National Convention on Aug. 29.

Michael Fox of the Detachment of California was elected national commander at the 49th SAL National Convention in Phoenix.

“Now more than ever, we need to be a united brotherhood to be champions within our communities,” Fox said.

Fox’s motto for his term as commander is “leadership through action, not through position,” a reminder that every SAL member can make a difference.

That is reflected in his project as national commander, Flying Flags for Heroes. The goal is to place 1 million flags to honor veterans in local cemeteries. Fox praised Preston Sharp, a teen SAL member from Redding, Calif., for helping create the project and serving as Flying Flags for Heroes’ spokesman.

Fox has been a member of Haggin Grant Squadron 521 in Rio Linda, Calif., since the day he was born. He held his first elected position at Squadron 521 as sergeant-at-arms at the age of six.

Fox has also served as the Detachment of California sergeant-at-arms. And in 2014, he served as the Detachment of California commander; his father, Ned Fox, held the same position in 1976, making them the first father-son duo to hold the position.

Fox has four daughters — Hailey, 21; twins Kaci and Kali, 16; and Skye, 12 — and is engaged to Crystal Reagan, who has three children of her own.

Elected vice national commanders under Fox are Richard L. “Dickie” Huntley of the Detachment of Maine, Eastern Region; Jason S. Roberts of the Detachment of Georgia, Southern Region; Jeffrey M. Vrabel Sr. of the Detachment of Ohio, Central Region; Juan R. Torres of the Detachment of Texas, Midwest Region; and Leslie J. “Jim” Stewart of the Detachment of Nevada, Western Region.