3 Updates From Nutley Sons Of American Legion: NJ Commander Elected, Wreath Laying, Community Breakfast

NUTLEY, NJ — A local Sons of The American Legion post in Nutley recently scored some new bragging rights.

Russell “Rusty” Myers III, a longtime leader with the Sons of The American Legion (SAL) Squadron 70 of Nutley, has been elected as the state commander of the Detachment of New Jersey.

Myers was unanimously chosen for his new role at the 63rd Detachment Convention in Wildwood last month. The one-year term ends in June 2027.

Myers is now responsible for leading New Jersey’s 10,000 “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.

Myers plans to “honor our past and serving our future” while at the helm of the detachment. This includes rolling out administrative change to adapt to changing times and technology, he said.

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 more than 400,000 members of the Sons nationwide. He sits on the National Media and Communication Commission, and has also served as detachment vice commander, detachment adjutant, legislative chairman, and children and youth commission chairman.

Myers is eligible for membership through the service of his father, Russ, who served in the U.S. 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.

Myers said he was humbled and honored to become the face of the detachment for the upcoming year.

“I pray I’m up to the challenge,” he said.

Here are two other recent updates from Sons of The American Legion (SAL) Squadron 70 of Nutley:

WREATH LAYING

Three members of Nutley Squadron 70 on Franklin Avenue recently participated in the National Sons of The American Legion (SAL) Memorial Wreath Laying ceremonies, which is held annually in the nation’s capital.

Spokespeople outlined the significance of the event:

“Each year, Sons from the national organization’s 55 detachments around the world assemble in Washington D.C. to take part on the Washington Conference, a weekend which concludes with The American Legion National Commander’s testimony to the House and Senate Joint Committee of Veterans Affairs. Members of the Legion Family – veterans, auxiliary members, and Sons – meet throughout the week with their congressional representatives to advocate for the American Legion’s legislative agenda, which focuses on the care of our veterans, serviceman and women, and their families. On the Sunday before the actual conference, the national SAL places wreaths at monuments throughout the city, including at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.”

This year, three members of SAL Squadron 70 in Nutley participated in the event: James Elsmore, Kevin Infield and Rusty Myers.

“It was an honor which I couldn’t handle,” Infield said. “The World War II monument, when I reached [the memorial for the] Pacific, absolutely broke me down.”

“My father and his young comrades were just kids,” he added.

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST

The Nutley American Legion Post 70 family recently held a community breakfast to recognize the 107^th birthday of the American Legion.

During the event, the post opened the doors to their home at 24 Franklin Avenue and invited the community to join them for a morning of pancakes, coffee, French toast, bacon, doughnuts – and good company.

The breakfast, organized by Sons of The American Legion (SAL) Squadron 70, was a hit and attracted dozens of visitors, organizers said.

“It was a celebration of an American Legion Post which has a century-old connection to Nutley, which stretches back to the organizations founding in 1919 – the same year Post 70 received its charter,” event organizers added.

Members from around the state showed up in support, including Squadron 174 in Wayne, Post 299 in Belleville, Unit 105 in Belleville, and members of The American Legion Riders who rode their bikes from Post 286 in West Milford.

Following the three-hour breakfast, members of the legion donated the leftover food to the Nutley police and fire departments. Post 70 also sent its “heartfelt thanks” to ShopRite of Nutley, Nutley Bagel Boy, Plaza Bakery and Violante’s for their support and donations.

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