User:Bhowysanowyh

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This article will be about the organization "Sons of The American Legion". Bhowysanowyh (talk) 23:40, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

CONTENTS:

History; The Emblem;
Membership; Follow-Up;
Historical Activity by Region.

NOTE: Images are very close to 'life size', except for the Cap. <img src="http://timesunion.memlink.com/memfiles/10012970" height="225" width="135" align=left> HISTORIAN'S MEDIALLION

History

The establishment of the Sons of The American Legion as a non-political, non-sectarian civilian organization was authorized by action of the 14th National Convention of The American Legion in Portland, Ore., Sept. 12-15, 1932. In 1939, the SONS had 72,633 members, about 7% the size of The American Legion.

There was a feature movie made about the Sons of The American Legion that was shown in theaters.

However, due to World War II, many SONS became part of the Greatest Generation and many of those Sons never returned from World War II. Those that did, found that their service had made them eligible to join the ranks of The Legion itself, which, in 1942 opened the door to the returning World War II veterans.

Membership dropped to 5,631 in 1953. Many factors caused the lean years for the SONS organization. The former Sons, had few children in the immediate postwar years. Housing shortages...a nation on the move...the G.I. Bill that sent thousands of veterans back to school...and the Korean War that put reservists back in uniform were some of the contributing factors.

However, by 1963, enrollment had climbed to nearly 17,000. In noting this renewed growth, the National Executive Committee, in regular meeting assembled in Indianapolis, Ind., April 30 - May 1, 1964, passed Resolution 22, urging that the S.A.L. program "be encouraged and implemented by internal promotion

<img src="http://timesunion.memlink.com/memfiles/10012971" height="225" width="135" align=right> CAPTAIN’S MEDIALLION Circa 1950

and increased public recognition through the National Headquarters staff and the various Departments of The American Legion." Approval was given for the Sons to conduct their first National S.A.L. Workshop during the Legion's National Convention in Dallas, Tex., in 1964.

In noting a need for a small national body to give the S.A.L. program national direction and stimulation, the Legion's NEC gave approval to Resolution 60 at its May 8-9, 1969, meeting in St. Louis, Mo. Resolution 60 created a Sons of The American Legion Committee, consisting of four members and a chairman. Two of the members were from the ranks of the S.A.L., while the chairman and the other two members were American Legionnaires.

After conducting a long and detailed study of the over-all organizational structure of the S.A.L., the Sons Committee reported that there was a "definite need for a National Sons of The American Legion Organization and the updating of the National Constitution and By-Laws of the SAL, as approved by the Legion's NEC back in May, 1933, and subsequently amended."

The Legion's National Executive Committee at its May 3 - 4, 1972, meeting in Indianapolis, Ind., gave its approval to Resolution 13. This created a National S.A.L. Organization under the supervision of the Legion's NEC, thus opening the door for the Sons of The American Legion to hold their first National Convention in Chicago, Ill., in August 1972. Resolution 13 also rescinded in its entirety the old S.A.L. Constitution and By-Laws, as adopted back in 1933.

<img src="http://timesunion.memlink.com/memfiles/10012972" height="225" width="135" align=left> SECOND LIEUTENANT Circa 1950

The American Legion's National Executive Committee at its spring meeting on May 2, 1973, gave approval to Resolution 21 originating from the Legion's Internal Affairs Commission. The Resolution established a procedure for handling matters originating from SAL National Conventions and SAL National Executive Committee meetings. All actions of the Sons of The American Legion National Convention and/or NEC are reviewed by the Legion's Internal Affairs Commission. The Internal Affairs Commission then affixes to its report to the Legion's NEC an addendum in digest form listing all such actions together with a statement setting forth the Internal Affairs Commission's disposition of each action. Unless specific contrary action is taken by the Legion's NEC with respect to the addendum items, the disposition recommended by the Legion’s Internal Affairs Commission becomes the disposition of the NEC.

At its fall meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 17 - 18, 1973, the Legion gave its approval to Resolution 15, abolishing the National SAL Committee created in 1969. Residual responsibilities of the National S.A.L. Committee are now assigned to the Legion's National Internal Affairs Commission.

The Emblem . . New Emblem (2002)
<img src="http://timesunion.memlink.com/memfiles/10012977"> . . . . . . . . . . <img src="http://timesunion.memlink.com/memfiles/10013422">

The design of the emblem was taken from the emblem of The American Legion organization, but is oval in shape so as to be easily distinguished.
The star in the center represents our country, and the five points of the star represent the five-point program of the Sons of The American Legion.
The sun in the background represents The Sons of The American Legion and the rays represent the loyalty of its membership.
The blue of the emblem, like the blue of our flag, stands for justice.
The two stars in the blue border stand for freedom and democracy.
The wreath below the star is in memory of comrades, and of the fathers who willingly gave their lives for their country.
The ten points of the emblem represent the ten ideals of every Legion son.

Original Design of S.A.L. Cap

<img src="http://timesunion.memlink.com/memfiles/10012974" height="135" width="225"> <img src="http://timesunion.memlink.com/memfiles/10012975" height="135" width="225">
CAP PATCHES

Membership

The previous All-Time High Membership record, in 1939, of 72,633 remained for 46 years until 1985, when surpassed with 75,607. Other milestones:

1989, 109,643;
1997, 201,302;
2000, 234,738;
In 2001 the SONS membership was about 9% of the Legion.
2002, 257,552;
2007, 300,127.

The largest Detachments are Indiana, Ohio, Pennslyvania, New York, Michigan and Maryland. There are 55 Detachments, including all U.S. States; France (includes Germany); Philippies and Puerto Rico. Canada was merged into New York in the late 1990’ies.

MOST YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP:
<img src="http://timesunion.memlink.com/memfiles/10022364">

Add list of Natl commanders, year and state.

General Activities: Add donation including Child Welfare, Scholarships, etc.

It could be the SONS build a monument, put up a flagpole at the Post or a town park, it could be annual donations or telethon for a charity, the list could be endless. The activity needs to be something we want people to remember, a story and photo is what I want for this web page. I'm sure someone in your area can help you get ideas and the facts.