National Commander of the American Legion Dan Wiley

On Oct. 10, National Commander of the American Legion Dan Wiley will visit Chautauqua County.

The last time that the National American Legion Commander visited Chautauqua County was in 2022 when Commander Vincent James Troiola came to Post 434 in Brocton.

Wiley was sworn in as the National Commander for the American Legion during the 2025 National Convention in Tampa, Fla. Wiley is a United States Air Force veteran and a strong advocate for the American Legion “Be the One” campaign to help quell veteran suicide.

Wiley is a member of American Legion Post 23 and has served in various roles at post, Department, and National levels. Wiley retired from the Kansas First Judicial District Court where he served as a judge and helped establish the Leavenworth County Veterans Treatment Court. He also served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the school board.

During Wiley’s visit to the Samuel L. Derby American Legion Post 556 in Frewsburg, Post Commander Mark Tompkins will guide him on a tour of the area to include the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown. After which, Post 556 in Frewsburg will host a National Commanders Dinner.

The dinner is open to all Chautauqua County veterans, but seats are limited, and reservations must be made by Oct. 1. The cost of the dinner is $39 per person. Dinner reservations can be made by contacting the Samuel L. Derby American Legion Post 556. Point of contact is Verna Hoover (814) 389-6074 – cell or email frewsburglegion.post556@gmail.com.

Throughout the year, Commander Wiley will travel to 55 departments covering the 50 states as well as American Legion posts outside of the United States. A fact often overlooked about the American Legion is that veterans around the world are served through the organization that offer over 250 posts outside of the U.S. serving over 2.3 million veterans worldwide.