Meet the leading candidate for 2026-27 national commander
ST. CLOUD ─ National Executive Committeeman from Minnesota Carl Moon, a retired optometrist, introduced the leading candidate for national commander during the Fall Conference on Oct. 24. He said John “Jay” Bowen of Colorado Spring Post 209 was born in Arkansas and grew up in Memphis, Tenn. That’s where Moon attended optometry school.
Bowen served 20 years in Army air defense artillery in a career spanning from Vietnam to the Global War on Terrorism. He did tours in Saudi Arabia and Germany, retiring as a chief warrant officer 3. He moved to Colorado after retiring and progressed through leadership levels of The American Legion. He most recently was the chairman of the National VA&R Commission.
Bowen’s mission remains “Be the One.” His theme is “Be a part of the solution.”
He said he gets asked why he ran for national commander.
“I never decided. I never had aspirations to serve as post, district or department commander. I had one goal in mind, and that is to serve.”
He described Past National Commander Tom Bock of Colorado (2005-06) telling him to “put up or shut up.” Bock then nominated him for the role, and he accepted.
Bowen said he doesn’t need a red or white cap to serve. Those are temporary caps.
“In The American Legion, we only own one permanent cap, and that’s the blue one,” Bowen said. “That’s where the work gets done. We are a grass-roots organization.”
Preventing veteran suicide will continue to be his mission. He said vet-suicide statistics such as 17 or 22 a day are low, in that the federal government doesn’t consider on-purpose deaths such as crashing a motor vehicle or suicide by cop.
“We will probably never in our lifetime get the number to zero, but that doesn’t mean are going to stop trying,” Bowen said.
Resolution from Minnesota passes
Moon attended the Fall Meeting at National HQ in Indianapolis on Oct. 6. His subcommittee reviewed 30 resolutions forwarded from the National Convention in Tampa and received a briefing from Judge Advocate Mark Seavey.
Among the resolutions approved was one born from Minnesota. It urges Congress to fund and research Agent Orange contamination in the Korean DMZ, then to care and provide for veterans who served there. Moon thanked Marissa LaCourt of Apple Valley Post 1776 for authoring the resolution.
America 250
Moon said the NEC is urging posts across America to celebrate America’s 250th birthday this summer.
“We are the center of our communities. We need to let them know that,” he said.
