Walton F. Hoffmann Memorial Post 179

Sons of the American Legion

Formed September 15, December 1932

The Sons of the American Legion (S.A.L.) is an officially recognized program of the American Legion, established through the actions of the American Legion’s National Executive Committee. 

The S.A.L. honors the service and sacrifice of its members' parents and grandparents who served in the U.S. military and were eligible for American Legion membership. Its mission is to serve veterans, active military personnel, and their families. This mission is fulfilled through numerous outreach programs conducted by S.A.L. members, volunteers, and the National Headquarters, which is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Membership eligibility includes all male descendants, adopted sons, and stepsons of American Legion members, as well as male descendants of veterans who died in service during World War I or on December 7, 1941, up to the present date. This eligibility is detailed in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of the American Legion. Additionally, male descendants of veterans who passed away after honorable discharge from military service are also eligible.

While the S.A.L. has its own membership, it is not an independent organization; rather, it is a program of the American Legion. Many members of the American Legion hold dual membership in both organizations.

The S.A.L. is organized into detachments at the state level and squadrons at the local level, with each squadron associated with a local American Legion post. The campaigns of these squadrons focus on preserving American traditions and values, enhancing the quality of life for the nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship.

The S.A.L. program, known as The Ten Ideals, teaches key elements including patriotism, health, knowledge, training, honor, faith, helpfulness, courtesy, reverence, and comradeship. Members who complete this program are eligible to advance to the next level, called The Five-Point Program of Service. This advanced program provides instruction on patriotism, citizenship, discipline, leadership, and Legionism.

Each squadron of the Sons of the American Legion can be a source of pride for its members and the sponsoring American Legion post. The squadron should actively volunteer to assist older veterans and participate in patriotic holiday observances and other civic events. This involvement not only helps expand the post’s representation but also raises awareness of the squadron’s purpose: to foster and perpetuate a true spirit of Americanism. Examples of how squadrons can fulfill these missions include:

**Volunteers** – Members of the S.A.L. find it fulfilling to volunteer at hospitals or medical centers through the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) program.

**Leadership** – As S.A.L. members age, their experience and skills should be utilized in leadership and instructional roles within the squadron. Older S.A.L. members with experience in Boys State can offer their services as junior counselors to the American Legion during this annual program.

**Marksmanship** – The American Legion Junior Shooting Sports program offers basic marksmanship training, qualification awards, and air rifle competitions for participants up to age 18. This program is recognized by USA Shooting, the national governing body for Olympic shooting, and the National Rifle Association as one of the premier youth marksmanship events in the country.

Legionnaires on the supervisory committee serve primarily as counselors for the squadron’s leadership.

According to the Squadron Handbook of the Sons of the American Legion, there are currently 285,000 members across 6,148 squadrons located in all 50 states, as well as in France, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Mexico. In Texas alone, there are more than 6,700 members of the Sons of the American Legion.

To stay updated on current programs and events, you can follow the S.A.L. Facebook page or read the Post 179 monthly newsletter, known as the Post Citizen.

The Preamble to the Constitution of the Sons of the American Legion

“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 goodwill 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 the great principles for which the American Legion stands; and to assist in carrying on for God and Country.”

For more information or to join the S.A.L., visit the website.
 

John Jellison, Brad Henderson, and State Commander Eddy Seegers, in his dual role as Commander of Squadron 179, showing the Proclamation presented by the mayor of New Braunfels proclaiming Sunday, September 15th, 2019 as Sons of the American Legion Day in the city. The Proclamation honors the 87th Anniversary of the formation of the Sons.

Squadron 179 Officers