2023 December Edition
In this issue:
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Commander Watry Honors Veterans
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Detachment Commander Allen Watry attended the Wreaths Across America event at the King Veterans Cemetery in King Wisconsin on December 16, 2023.
Remember, Honor, Teach.
That's the motto of Wreaths Across America. It sounds a lot like us.
Each December, members of The American Legion family gather at veterans cemeteries across Wisconsin and places these wreaths to remember and honor our heroes.
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Stand for the Four Pillars, stand for the Legion Family
SAL National Commander Don Hall, Jr is issuing a challenge to Squadrons to be Four Pillar Squadrons.
Commander Hall says "I believe in the Four Pillars of our organization, and what they stand for. The American Legion was built believing in Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Americanism, Children & Youth and National Security and they are still the core beliefs of what the American Legion Family stands for. I have issued a commander’s challenge to all Squadrons to support the Four Pillars and become a National Four Pillar Squadron. To do so, all you need to do is raise one dollar per member each for Operation Comfort Warriors (VA&R), the Child Welfare Foundation (Children & Youth) and your department’s Boys State program (Americanism) and hold a blood drive (National Security). You will then receive an award for being a National Four Pillar Squadron. That is not that hard to do, if we plan and work to get it done."
I believe that the Sons of The American Legion can reach new heights and crush our records for hours volunteered and donations. It will take all of us working and believing in the work we do to help our veterans, children, and community. Aaron Tippin sang a song that said, “You’ve got to stand for something or you will fall for anything.” Let’s stand for what is right and show that our family’s service is worth all of us being the best Son we can be. “Be The One” in more ways than one.
If your Squadron participates, fill out the Four Pillar Challenge form and be recognized.
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A Moving Visit to Pearl Harbor
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L-R: Legion National Commander Dan Seehafer (WI), Auxiliary National President Lisa Williams (AK), SAL National Commander Don Hall, Jr. (MD) at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 2023
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Hello again, American Legion Family,
This message may be a little later this month then in the past; that is because I wanted to write this after coming back from our Pearl Harbor trip with your Legion Family leadership. I was so honored to represent the Sons of The American Legion and to travel daily with Commander Seehafer and President Williamson.
I was also honored to start the trip by carrying on a tradition of placing 2,390 flags at the Pearl Harbor memorial park with many who showed up at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning to take part in Flying Flags for Heroes.
And placing a wreath on Monday at the “Punchbowl” — the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific — with four other members from Maryland’s Sons representing Sons of The American Legion.
I joined Commander Seehafer, President Williamson and members of our D.C. office to visit the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), as we were briefed on just how exactly unidentified bodies are still being searched for and how work continues on identifying the remains of many that have been discovered. There is amazing work still happening to make sure our men and women and their families someday have closure.
What an honor to be with our leadership at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7 at the ceremonies to honor all that were there and sacrificed, and the ones that survived that day that will live in infamy. To be able to see the memorial of the Arizona at daybreak, and board the Missouri as Legion Family. Words cannot describe the amount of emotions and respect I had to be there representing our organization and my grandfather’s service. To go onboard the Arizona Memorial is such a feeling and to know you are above the graves of so many that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I cannot thank the American Legion Family enough for letting my wife Margie and I experience this all while representing you.
I ask everyone this holiday season to pray for the families of all that never came home, remember they were there to protect our freedom and were part of the greatest generation.
Happy Holidays to you all, remember our men and women serving our great country.
Representing More Than Me,
Donald “JR” Hall
National Commander
Sons of The American Legion
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The Wisconsin American Legion has launched a video gaming site that is open to the ENTIRE Legion Family. Once they become a verified member of Discord (verify member ID#), we will send a link to the game. Members will have the long weekend to prepare.
Step 1: Download Discord. Verify your membership with your member ID# found on your Membership card. Once verified you will be sent a link to the game. Players can chat either via text or voice. Sign up at https://discord.gg/EcpWNdap.
- This link is good for 7 days. Members can request a new link if it expires.
Step 2: Downloaded the game from https://store.steampowered.com/app/730/CounterStrike_2/. The game link that will be sent once membership is verified will not work if this game is not downloaded.
Step 3: System requirements are as follows:
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2024 Mid-Winter. Freezin' for a Reason and Hope to see you there
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Planning for Wisconsin’s 2024 Mid-Winter Training and DEC is well underway. This year Mid-Winter will be held on Jan. 18-21 in La Crosse, WI. Activities over this weekend include:
- Freezing for a Reason Fundraiser for Veterans in Stress—Thurs/Fri at Post 52 La Crosse. This is being conducted by your fellow SAL Members.
- 2.2 for 22 Walk to combat Veterans Suicide—Thurs afternoon
- Many Training Sessions Commander, Adjutant, Funeral Honors, Service Officers, Peer Mentoring, M-1 Garand, and how to navigate mylegion.org – Sat morning and afternoon
- Recruiting the Next You Celebration—Sat evening, including a ceremony for all new members in attendance
There was also be SAL Specific activities including:
- Quarterly Programs Meetings—Friday afternoon
- SAL related training – Sat early afternoon
- Quarterly DEC Meeting—Sat late afternoon.
For more information see www.wisal.org/midwinter
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Online Membership & Squadron Membership Resources
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ONLINE RENEWALS
As many of you know, individual members can and are renewing their dues online by going to https://legion.org/sal-renew. So far for for 2024, online renewals have occurred for 64 different squadrons.
What does that mean for you and your Squadron?
It means that making sure we have current information about your Squadron is vitally important.
The amount to report is the TOTAL amount collected per member: National ($5) + State ($7) + what the Squadron keeps.
So if your Squadron dues is $20.00, show it as $20.00 so your Squadron will receive back $8.00 per member.
If we do not have your dues, when your members renew online the system will only collect $12.00. Your Squadron will be out the extra you charge, or you will have to separately contact your members to collect the difference.
All this information can be provided to Detachment Headquarters via an on-line form to lookup and then update your Squadron Information. Fill out that form and submit. Thank you in advance for updating this important information.
HOW DO I GET MY SQUADRON ON MYLEGION.ORG?
Is your Squadron active on MyLegion.org? More than half of all Wisconsin Memberships are being transmitted by Squadrons through MyLegion.org. It is fast and efficient.
Not sure if your squadron is using MyLegion.org? Go the link in the paragraph above and it will show if your Squadron is set up, and when they last sent a transmittal.
Need Help? Go to www.wisal.org/mylegion for step-by-step instructions.
HOW IS YOUR SQUADRON DOING IN MEMBERSHIP?
Membership reports are produced weekly and available at www.wisal.org/membership-reports
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Commander's and Adjutant's Corner
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We are coming to the end of another calendar year and that means its time to renew all our members. Contact Headquarters if assistance is needed in this effort.
There are many upcoming program and scholarship opportunities for local youth to participate/apply for, please encourage your local youth to participate. This includes:
Contact your Post Leadership or Headquarters for more details.
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Upcoming Detachment Events
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- Detachment Mid-Winter Conference & Training—Jan 19-21 @ La Crosse
- Detachment Spring DEC—April 27th @Portage
- 2024 Detachment Convention—July 12-14th @ Appleton
- 2024 National Convention—August 23-25th @ New Orleans, LA
All are welcome to attend!
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2023 - 2024 Detachment Officers & Contacts
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Detachment Officers have multiple responsibilities, the most responsibilities involve supporting Squadrons in any way they can. Whether this is helping fill out a Consolidate Squadron Report, updating the Squadron Information (officers and general information), learning how to utilize myLegion.org, general training, helping promote an upcoming Squadron event, working on membership, or any other needs a Squadron has we are here to help. Officer info can be found at www.wisal.org/leadership
Please do not hesitate to reach one of us with any needs you and/or your Squadron has.
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National Sons of The American Legion Web Site— www.legion.org/sons
Wisconsin Sons of The American Legion Web Site—www.wisal.org
National Legion Web Site—www.legion.org
State Legion Web Site—www.wilegion.org
Emblem Sales—www.emblem.legion.org
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