06/15/2026
(12 JUNE 2026) Wildwood, NJ – Russell “Rusty” Myers III, of Sons of The American Legion (SAL) Squadron 70 of Nutley, NJ was elected at the 63rd Detachment Convention in Wildwood on 12 June 2026 as the state commander of the Detachment of New Jersey
“Brother Sons, I’m humbled and honored that you have placed your trust in me to be the face of this Detachment for the next year,” Myers stated at his installation. “I pray I’m up to the challenge.”
Being elected to that office, Myers is now responsible for leading New Jersey’s over 10,200 Sons from 130-plus squadrons across The Garden State. He is the first state commander ever elected out of Nutley, and the first out of Essex County since 1990.
In a speech given at a social in Wildwood by American Legion Department Executive Committeeman Darrell Collins of Montclair, he called Myers “Essex’s favorite Son.”
In convention, with 45 squadrons represented, Myers was elected by unanimous vote to be the newest Detachment, or state, Commander with a one-year term which ends in June 2027.
His slogan for the year is “Honoring Our Past, Serving Our Future”, with an additional focus on administrative change to adapt to changing times and technology. He calls this year’s state officer’s commitment to serving the organization and our veterans “servant leadership.”
A member since 2018, Myers has served at various levels throughout the SAL – at the local squadron, county, state, and national level. He currently serves as the editor of “The Millennium”, the newsletter of the Sons of The American Legion – which is distributed to the 400,200 members of the Sons nationwide – and sits on the National Media and Communication Commission. He has also served as Detachment Vice Commander, Detachment Adjutant, Legislative Chairman, Children and Youth Commission Chairman.
All offices which helped him prepare for this journey to state leadership.
The Sons of The American Legion is a program of The American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans service organization. The SAL is committed to promoting the “Four Pillars” of its parent organization – Americanism, Veterans Affairs, a strong National Security, and Children and Youth. The SAL nationwide is a force for good, fundraising and running programs which benefit our vets, our kids, our communities, and our nation. A Son eligible for membership through the honorable war-time service of a veteran from whom he is descended, be it his father, mother, grandparents, or great-grandparents – truly, as it states in the Preamble to their Constitution, “Proud Possessors of a Priceless Heritage.”
Myers is eligible for membership through the service of his father, Russ, who served in the US Army in Vietnam in Long Lines Battalion North, 1st Signal Brigade. His father is also a 55 year member of American Legion Post 155 in Whippany, NJ, and performed the installation ceremony.
He lives in Nutley, with wife Meghan and their three children – Abigail, Grace, and Jake – all who are members of The American Legion Family.
