Sons of The American Legion - Detachment of Nevada

Join the Sons of The American Legion

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.

Join the Sons of The American Legion

Eligibility Requirements

All male descendants adopted sons, and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of veterans who died in service during the period of April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918, or any time from December 7, 1941, to date, who served honorably, as set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of The American Legion, or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion.

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*Membership applications can be delivered to an American Legion Post near you. There is a good chance that Post will have its own Squadron of the Sons. If not, someone at the Post should be able to tell you where to find a Squadron near you. If not, contact the S.A.L. National Headquarters for information about finding a nearby Squadron.

About Post 7

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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.

About The American Legion Riders

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American Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children’s hospitals, schools, veterans homes, severely wounded servicemembers and scholarships. Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in The American Legion Legacy Run to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.

For the latest in Riders apparel and gear, including patches, go to Legion Rider Merchandise – Emblem Sales.

History

In Garden City, Mich., in 1993, Chuck “Tramp” Dare and Bill “Polka” Kaledas, commander of American Legion Post 396, shared an idea to start a motorcycle enthusiasts association within the organization. The two longtime riders wanted an environment where Legion family members could come together to share a common love for motorcycles.

Dare and Kaledas wrote a letter to Michigan Department Adjutant Hubert Hess, sharing their idea. Hess replied that he liked the concept and wanted to pursue it. Later, he gave Kaledas and Dare instructions for managing the program at the post level. He also explained how they could be approved to use the American Legion emblem, and how to gain Membership’s support and recognition. At a regular meeting, Post 396 members passed a resolution for a new program to be known as the “American Legion Riders.”

Joined by 19 other founding members from their post, Dare and Kaledas were flooded with requests for information about their organization. They agreed to establish a central source for the Riders to ensure that chapters formed not as motorcycle clubs or gangs, but as Legionnaires and Auxiliary and SAL members joining to ride as Legion family.

Legion Riders today

Currently, over 110,000 American Legion Riders meet in over 2,000 chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. Riders in Iowa have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders, and Riders in Mulvane, Kan., founded the Patriot Guard to protect the sanctity of military funerals from protesters. Riders in all states have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted massive cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars for countless local, state and national charities. Many Riders, supported by their departments, conduct annual statewide Legacy Runs in direct support of American Legion scholarship progras of Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), supporting our wounded servicemembers across the nation.  

True to the Legion’s grassroots tradition, each chapter manages its programs at the post level, where the best ideas are born. The Riders are part of many projects and events, including:

  • Rolling Thunder, the annual POW/MIA rally in Washington on Memorial Day weekend.
  • Annual regional rides such as Operation Wounded Warrior, sponsored by Riders in Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California and other Western states.
  • Local charity events in support of The American Legion and local communities.
  • Raising money for VA hospitals, women and children centers, children and youth centers, schools and other facilities.
  • Sponsoring or participating in motorcycle runs to benefit numerous charities.
  • Local memorial ceremonies and community parades.
  • The American Legion Legacy Run, an annual cross-country fundraising ride from National Headquarters in Indianapolis to the national convention city.
  • Riding to honor fallen military men and women, and to protect the sanctity of their funerals from those who would dishonor their memory.
  • Escorting military units to departure airfields and airports for combat tours overseas, and welcoming them home upon their return.

“American Legion Riders as a National Program”

FROM RESOLUTION 35 AS VOTED ON BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION ON OCTOBER 17-18, 2007 AND AMENDED BY RESOLUTION 32 BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION ON MAY 4-5, 2011

All American Legion Rider groups must be a program supported by a Post or Department of The American Legion and shall uphold the declared principles of The American Legion as well as conform to and abide by the regulations and decisions of the Department, Post or other duly constituted Department governing body.

The following guidelines are recommended for The ALR program of The American Legion:

  1. All members of The American Legion Riders shall be current members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion
  2. Each ALR member shall establish and maintain membership by owning, individually or through marriage, a motorcycle licensed and insured as required by state law
  3. ALR programs may allow for continued membership for those members who have given up motorcycle ownership because of age, illness, injury, or other reasons outside the member’s control
  4. All ALR members shall strive to maintain the image of The American Legion, at all times upholding The American Legion name and emblem, which symbolizes the integrity and principles of this great organization
  5. All The ALR groups shall avoid the perception of being a “motorcycle club” or biker club”
  6. The only recognized The American Legion Rider logo is that which is copyrighted and sold through The American Legion National Emblem sales
  7. All Members will obey the motorcycle laws of their state
  8. No use of rockers with the ALR patch because touching the patch violates trademark laws of the ALR patch
  9. Sponsoring organization (Post and Department) will review liability insurance coverage to ensure that adequate coverage is available to cover the organization to include coverage for any specific special riding events.

American Legion Rider groups shall abide by The American Legion Constitution and By-laws as well as the established Post and Department directives.

The American Legion National Headquarters and the respective Departments shall maintain general oversight of ALR Program as regards to proper use of the name and emblem of The American Legion, ALR and The American Legion Legacy Run, and compliance with the National Constitution and By-Laws of The American Legion.

Bold fields indicate what was amended by Resolution 32, May 4-5, 2011

Proud possessors of a priceless heritage, we male descendants of veterans of the Great Wars, associate ourselves together as "Sons of The American Legion" for the following purposes:

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;
To maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a true spirit of Americanism;
To preserve the memories of our former members and the association of our members and our forefathers in all wars;
To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State and Nation;
To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;
To make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth;
To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy,;
To consecrate and sanctify our friendship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness;
To adopt in letter and spirit all of the great principles for which The American Legion stands, and
To assist in carrying on for God and Country.

Sons of The American Legion Preamble

#SALStrong About About The American Legion About The American Legion Auxiliary About The American Legion Riders American Legion Auxiliary Blue Star Banners Children Children and Youth Child Welfare Foundation Depolyed Soldiers Eligibility Flying Flags for Heros heroes History Join Post Information Riders SAL SALStrong Sons Sons of The American Legion TAL The American Legion The American Legion Auxiliary The American Legion Family The American Legion Riders veterans