About

About The American Legion

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at nearly 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.

Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth.

About The American Legion

August 22, 2021 by wp_admin_nevadasal_org

Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth.

About The American Legion Auxiliary

August 22, 2021 by wp_admin_nevadasal_org

Founded in 1919, The American Legion Auxiliary has nearly one million members from all walks of life. The Auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and to veterans, and raises millions of dollars to support its own programs, as well as other worthwhile charities familiar to Americans. It is all accomplished with volunteers.

While originally organized to assist The American Legion, the Auxiliary has achieved its own unique identity while working side-by-side with the veterans who belong to The American Legion. Like the Legion, the Auxiliary’s interests have broadened to encompass the entire community.

The American Legion Auxiliary is made up of the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Through its nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it solidly stands behind America and its ideals.

About the Sons of The American Legion

Founded in 1932, Sons of The American Legion exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires.

S.A.L. members include males of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the U.S. military and were eligible for American Legion membership. Members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion comprise the Legion Family, which has a combined membership of three million.

Although Sons has its own membership, the organization is not a separate entity. Rather, S.A.L. is a program of The American Legion. Many Legionnaires hold dual membership in S.A.L.

The Sons organization is divided into detachments at the state level and squadrons at the local level. A squadron pairs with a local American Legion post; a squadron’s charter is contingent upon its parent post’s charter. However, squadrons can determine the extent of their services to the community, state, and nation. They are permitted flexibility in planning programs and activities to meet their needs but must remember S.A.L.’s mission: to strengthen the four pillars of The American Legion. Therefore, squadrons’ campaigns place an emphasis on preserving American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship.

Since 1988, S.A.L. has raised more than $6 million for The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. S.A.L. members have volunteered over 500,000 hours at veterans hospitals and raised over $1,000,000 for VA hospitals and VA homes. The Sons also support the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition dedicated to protecting the U.S. flag from desecration through a constitutional amendment.

About Post 7

March 17, 2019 by wp_admin_nevadasal_org

Reed-Gregory Post 7 was Chartered September 1919 in Elko, Nevada

Post Namesake

Lt. Reed — WWI aviator & Lt. Joseph Gregory — WWII Corps of Engineers

Notable Members

Morley Griswold, who had served in the US Army during WWI, became the first Commander of Post 7 in Elko when it was formed in September 1919. He later became the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Nevada from 1927 to 1934, and served out the term of Governor Frederick Balzar upon his death. From March 21, 1934 to January 7, 1935, Morley Groiswold served as the 16th Governor of the state of Nevada. Post 7 has also had 3 of its members who have served as Department Commanders for the American Legion of Nevada over the years. Stanley E. Davis 1936-37 Edward J. White 1989-90 James K. Byars 2013-14 Post 7 had the youngest Post Commander to serve anywhere in the Legion in 1947. Ted Blohm 1947-48 aged 21 Ted took the reins of leadership from his father Walter Blohm, who had been Post Commander two years earlier. Many of the early pillars of Elko belonged to Post 7, and the Post is proud to carry their tradition of service into the 21st century.

What Makes this Post Unique

Post 7 serves a very isolated area in NE Nevada and has been active since the earliest days of the American Legion. Reed Post 7, named after a local WWI aviator killed in WWI, held their first Armistice Day “Military Ball” at the Bradley Opera House in Elko to celebrate the first anniversary of the End of Hostilities in the World War, to the sounds of the Mayer Orchestra. The Post was active in veteran’s affairs during the years leading up to the second World War and provided a Department Commander in 1936 — Stanley E. Davis. After WWII, the Post honored Lt. Joseph Gregory, who had been killed on D-Day at Omaha Beach, by adding his name to the Post, thus Reed Post 7 became Reed-Gregory Post 7. Edward White was elected Department Commander in 1989, and the Department Convention was held in Elko in June 1990. Following in the footsteps of these gentlemen, James K. Byars has become Department Commander for the years 2013-14, and Post 7 continues its tradition of service to the veterans of Elko and the surrounding area. The members of Post 7 look forward to the challenges of the 21st century and are anxious to do their part in the upcoming Centennial Celebrations. Go Legion!

Post 7 is one of only a few posts in Nevada that has a full Legion family: The American Legion, Sons of The American Legion, Legion Riders, and American Legion Auxiliary. Post 7 has something for everyone.