Sam McPherson, Air Force veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former commander of the local American Legion Post, was elected last week as senior vice commander of the Oklahoma American Legion.

McPherson, a 1984 graduate of Kingfisher High School, is next in line to the office of state commander of the organization.

He joined the Air Force after two years at Oklahoma State University and served more than 21 years in the military police at bases in England, Kansas, Korea and Washington, D.C.

His career included four deployments to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait, six years guarding U.S. President support aircraft and two years securing the Joint Staff areas of the Pentagon.

He was on duty in the latter assignment when the Pentagon was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, and earned a Purple Heart for his rescue and recovery efforts.

McPherson said that even though his grandfather, Don Best, was a card-carrying member of the American Legion, “my first real introduction to the Legion was attending Oklahoma American Legion Boys State in 1983.”

Dr. A.J. Johnson, McPherson’s former teacher as well as a fellow veteran, American Legion member and longtime Boys State volunteer, said McPherson’s performance at the weeklong state government immersion program that he was invited back the next year as a counselor.

“From that time, the only Boys State sessions he missed were while he was deplyed with the Air Force overseas,” Johnson said. “He frequently took personal leave to fly home from Korea or England so that he could be a part.

“He truly loves Boys State and, on his own dime, he travels to Virginia to serve on their staff as well as that of Oklahoma.

“His service at Boys State has been recognized with just about every award that can be given to the staff.”

McPherson’s description of his service is more modest.

“I was fortunate enough to continue my association with Boys State and as soon as I was eligible, I was signed up in the Legion,” he said. “I really didn’t contribute much (except for Boys State) for 16 years because I was active duty and gone most of the time.”

Once back in Oklaho-he became more involved in the American Legion, first at the local and then the state level.

McPherson has served as second vice commander, first vice commander and on the state board of directors.

He also served two years as state commander for the Sons of the American Legion and two years on that organization’s national executive committee.

He’s also served in several appointments, including chairman for children and youth committee and as a member of the finance and constitution and bylaws committees.

“I’m excited to see what comes next,” he said of his recent election as senior vice commander.

One of the challenges he sees is maintaining and growing membership in the American Legion.

“Membership is the lifeblood of any organization but everyone is having to deal with declining membership,” he said.

“Demographics don’t help us a lot either – 40% of veterans are over 65, 40% are 45-65 and only 20% are under 45.

“We have to be more aggressive in our recruiting efforts and give them a reason to belong.”

McPherson said the role of the American Legion extends from serving veterans and their families at the local level to fighting for veterans and active duty servicemen and women at the national level.

“We took Congress to task when Coast Guardsmen weren’t paid and the poor treatment of our National Guardsmen deployed to our nation’s Capitol,” he said. “We revamped the Post 9/11 GI Bill to the Forever GI Bill so benefits don’t expire and we fought for more accountability and changes in the Veterans Administration hospitals.”

But for McPherson, one of the most rewarding activities of the organization is one that hits closer to home – providing military honors to departed comrades.

“Firing three volleys, playing Taps and presenting the U.S. Flag to the next of kin is the least we can do.”