Sons of the American Legion, Detachment of Alaska

08/23/2026

The 2026-2027 banner form is now available. Share with your Post, Units, Squadrons and Chapters. Click the photo to get your form today!

To show unity, each and every pillar in your local Post should have a pennant for their identification flag.

Show your unity in Child Welfare and in you local areas.

Established in 1954, The American Legion Child Well-being Foundation was developed as a repository of funds from individuals who wished to contribute to the betterment of children in this country. Our foremost philanthropic priority is to contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual w...

08/22/2026

Recently, as one on the Committee members researching our path to creating a Alaska Legion College, I have received this question many times, so I thought I would share this with the Detachment:

Question: Is The American Legion Basic Training appropriate for training our SAL membership?

Yes. The American Legion Basic Training course is absolutely appropriate for Sons of The American Legion members, it is not limited to Legionnaires.

The current 2026 Post Adjutant’s Guide specifically says Basic Training is designed for members of The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of The American Legion, and that the course is free for American Legion and SAL members.

For an SAL member, I think it can be especially valuable because the course explains the larger organization they are part of: History & Organization, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth. It also shows how members of the entire Legion Family can put those principles into action in their own communities.

This can be a great leadership-development tool for an SAL Squadron. A young Son who completes Basic Training gains a much better understanding of why the Legion Family does what it does, not simply how to conduct a meeting or participate in an event. That foundation can help prepare him to become a stronger Squadron officer, committee member, volunteer and eventually a mentor to younger Sons.

For younger SAL members, I would pair Basic Training with the SAL's own Ten Ideals and Five-Point Program of Service. The Ten Ideals covers patriotism, health, knowledge, training, honor, faith, helpfulness, courtesy, reverence and comradeship; the Five-Point Program develops patriotism, citizenship, discipline, leadership and Legionism.

So a very strong development path could be:

1. SAL Ten Ideals — establish the foundation.
2. Five-Point Program of Service — develop service and leadership.
3. American Legion Basic Training — understand the entire Legion Family, Four Pillars and programs.
4. Mentorship with experienced SAL and Legion leaders — put that knowledge into practice.
5. Squadron responsibility — committees, ceremonies, programs, community service and eventually elected leadership.

And Basic Training is manageable: National describes the current self-paced online course as taking less than two hours, and graduates can receive a certificate of completion.

I would strongly encourage SAL officers—and particularly young members you're developing into future leaders—to complete it. It fits extremely well with the mentoring approach you were talking about earlier: don't simply give young Sons a title; give them the education, mentorship, opportunities and tools to succeed.

Vince Winter
Department of Alaska: Social Media/Public Relations Officer


Sons of The American Legion
The American Legion National Headquarters
The American Legion, Department of Alaska

08/21/2026

RED needs to be shared about its significance to our youth of the Sons of the American Legion, and their choice to wear red as a symbol of remembrance. This simple act is powerful; it ensures that no one who has served and sacrificed is ever forgotten.

By wearing red, our young members honor those deployed across the globe, reaffirming our collective commitment to remember and support our heroes. It is a visual reminder that their sacrifices are not lost in time but are etched into our hearts and history.

Let us continue to teach our youth the importance of remembrance, unity, and gratitude. Through their dedication, we ensure that the sacrifices of all deployed servicemen and women remain alive in our memory, always honored, never forgotten.

08/20/2026

Mentoring young Sons of The American Legion members is about far more than preparing them for the next meeting, it is about preparing them for life and developing the leaders who will carry our organization forward.

One of the strongest things we can do is partner our younger SAL members with experienced leaders from both the Sons of The American Legion and The American Legion. Give them people they can learn from, ask questions of, and look to as examples of leadership, service, integrity, and responsibility.

Get them involved. Invite them to participate in games, activities, ceremonies, service projects, community events, and SAL and Legion programs that challenge their minds and build confidence. Teach them the core values behind what we do, not simply how to conduct a meeting, but why service to veterans, families, youth, and our communities matters.

Mentorship must also reach beyond the Legion Family. Ask these young members about their goals. Do they want to attend college or trade school? Join the military? Enter law enforcement, firefighting, public service, or another career? Help them find the resources to get there. Assist with scholarship searches and applications, letters of recommendation, educational opportunities, career information, leadership programs, and connections to people who can help open doors.

Most importantly, stand up for them!

Celebrate their accomplishments. Encourage them when they struggle. Give them meaningful responsibilities and allow them to learn. Show them through your own actions what leadership, accountability, patriotism, compassion, and service look like.

We often talk about young SAL members as our "future leaders." But they are also members of our Legion Family right now. Give them a voice. Give them opportunities. Give them the tools they need to succeed. Whether their path leads to college, military service, civil service, the trades, business, or something entirely their own.

Remember, someone once invested time in each of us. Now it is our responsibility to do the same.

Be the mentor. Be the example. Be the person who sees potential in a young member and helps turn that potential into purpose.

Because when we invest in our young SAL members today, we are strengthening The American Legion Family of tomorrow.


Sons of The American Legion
The American Legion National Headquarters

08/19/2026

The Sons of the American Legion have a study program called "The Ten Ideals" for its younger members. These ideals are intended to teach the fundamentals of good citizenship and American traditions.

The 10 ideals are:

Patriotism: Upholding love of and pride in one's country through respectful actions, such as properly displaying the American flag.

Health: Maintaining the condition of being sound in body and mind, including promoting sanitary conditions and physical fitness.

Knowledge: Seeking a better understanding of U.S. history, Legionism (the principles of The American Legion), and the meaning of the SAL emblem.

Training: Developing skills for leadership and taking on roles, such as serving as a squadron officer.

Honor: Demonstrating honesty, integrity, and fair actions over time.

Faith: Showing good conduct and respect for leadership and ideals.

Helpfulness: Consistently volunteering for tasks, aiding comrades, and participating in squadron functions.

Courtesy: Being polite and respectful toward comrades, officers, and others.

Reverence: Showing respect for religious organizations and aiding in activities such as placing flowers on veterans' graves.

Comradeship: Fostering fellowship and friendship by supporting disabled veterans and participating in events like the annual Poppy Sale.

To help youth through The Sons of the American Legion's 10 Idea Program teach them to embrace the "Give 10" mindset. Coordinate with The American Legion and Auxiliary for a unified approach to community needs, focusing on supporting the health, education, and spirit of children. We can achieve this by collecting and donating essential items such as school supplies, creating care packages, volunteering for youth-focused programs like Special Olympics, and promoting patriotism through activities like flag etiquette or participation in Americanism events.

08/18/2026

The teams are SET! It all comes down to this.

One game. One championship. Lincoln Post 500 vs Portland Post 158 Barbers. One team will leave Shelby as the 2026 American Legion World Series Champion.

First Pitch: 6PM EST TODAY
Where to Watch: ESPNU

Follow American Legion Baseball for more updates

08/17/2026

Since 1988, SAL has raised more than $5 million for The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. SAL members have volunteered over 250,000 hours at veterans hospitals and raised over $915,688 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.

https://www.legion.org/childwelfare/

08/11/2026

Your August Millennium is out!

A convention preview, Boys Nation, and news from squadrons around the organization! Enjoy.

https://em.legion.org/files/amf_american_legion/project_32/2026/2026_August_Millennium_FINAL.pdf

08/11/2026

For a Son of The American Legion, National Sons and Daughters Day can carry a deeper meaning than simply celebrating family.

A Son of The American Legion is connected to a legacy of service. Membership exists because a parent or grandparent answered the call to serve our nation. That makes the day an opportunity to recognize not only the bond between generations, but also the responsibility of carrying forward the values they represented: service, patriotism, citizenship, remembrance, and care for veterans and their families.

For many SAL members, being a “Son” is more than a membership classification. It is a reminder that someone in their family wore the uniform, sacrificed time away from home, and became part of the history that allows the next generation to continue serving in a different way.

National Sons and Daughters Day can therefore be a day to say:

We are proud of where we came from, grateful for those who came before us, and responsible for what we pass on to those who come after us.

That message fits the Sons of The American Legion especially well. You may not have worn your veteran ancestor's uniform, but you can still carry their legacy through your actions—supporting veterans, mentoring youth, strengthening your community, honoring the fallen, and standing beside the entire American Legion Family.

08/10/2026

We are always stronger when we share our knowledge, tools, and experiences with one another. Success is rarely achieved alone, it is built through teamwork, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from each other. When we lift one another up, share what works, and grow together, we don't just become more successful as individuals, we strengthen our entire organization and the communities we serve.

Here is the latest update on the "Membership Outreach Backpack Program" used in the Detachment of Arizona.

Arizona has found that it has helped get Squadrons get online and able to use "MyLegion" to process membership. Making it a affordable & portable work station for those that are processing membership that may not have a desktop computer available at the Post Home for them to use.