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DETACHMENT OF GEORGIA
SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
Meeting Guidelines

 

How to run a Squadron meeting.
 
The Squadron Commander shall announce that the meeting is about to open. Officers shall take their stations. American Legion Post members acting as Advisors will take their place among the membership.
 
The Squadron Commander will seat the membership with one rap of the gavel and the doors of the meeting place shall be closed by the Sergeant-at-arms.
 
The Adjutant shall proceed through those present, and after membership cards have been examined, shall return to the station of the Squadron Commander, where he shall report, giving the names of visitors, if there are any, and their post and Squadron name as they are being introduced.
 
The Commander shall then give three raps of the gavel and all present shall stand at attention.
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:  
"The Color Bearers will advance the Flag Of Our Country"
As the Colors are being presented, the Commander shall order "Hand Salute"
 
The membership shall continue to stand at attention and render salute while the flags are being advanced and placed in position.
The Commander shall give the command " Two" to end the salute.
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:
 "The Chaplain will invoke the blessing of God"
The Commander gives the order to " Uncover", members present remove their caps.
 
SQUADRON CHAPLAIN: 
The Chaplain shall at this time say a prayer.
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:
"In memory of our departed comrades and the comrades our our fathers, let us stand in silence."
(Squadron remains standing and stands in silence for 30 seconds.) (The sounding of "Taps" on a muffled trumpet will add solemnity to the ritual.) 
Following the Silence, the Commander is encouraged to proceed with the POW / MIA Empty Chair Ceremony.
 
 
POW / MIA Empty Chair Ceremony
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER: 
"Resolution 288, adopted at the 67th National Convention, of the American Legionand Resolution N.C. 2-94, adopted at the 23rd National Convention of the Sons of the American Legion, calls for designating a POW / MIA Empty Chair at all official meetings of the Sons of the American Legion as a physical symbol of the thousands of American POW / MIA's still unaccounted for, as a reminder for all of us to spare no effort to secure the release of any American prisoners from captivity, the repatriation of the remains of those who died bravely in defence of liberty and a full accounting of those missing."
Let us rededicate ourselves for this vital endeavor.
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:
"Please place POW / MIA flag on Empty Chair"
 
(The Sereant-at-arms, or other designated individuals, approaches the Empty Chair carrying a folded POW / MIA flag. Upon reaching the Empty Chair, they reverently unfold and drape it over the Empty Chair with the crest facing the membership.)
 
Following the Empty Chair Ceremony, the Commander and the membership will together recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:
"Please uncover as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance."
 
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
 
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Commander will lead the Preamble to the Constitution of the Sons of the American Legion.
 
" Proud possessors of a priceless heritage, we male desendants 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 associations of our members and our forefathers in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sence of individual obligation to community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to prosterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our friendship by 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."
 
One rap of the gavel by the Commander will seat the members.
(members shall cover at this point.)
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:
"I now declare this meeting of Squadron No.__________, Detachment of Georgia regularly convened."
 
ORDER OF BUSINESS
  1. Reading of minutes of previous meeting.
  2. Committee reports / Officers reports.
  3. Sick call and relief.
  4. Unfinished business
  5. Balloting on applications
  6. Initiation of candidates
  7. New business and correspondence.
  8. Good of the S.A.L. (The membership shall be permitted to make any suggestions of any kind, charactor or description, exept religion or partisan politics.)
 SQUADRON COMMANDER:
"Is there any further business to come before the meeting?  If not, the Squadron Chaplain will lead us in the closing prayer."
 
The Commander shall give three raps of the gavel, and membership shall arise, uncover, and stand in silence.
 
SQUADRON CHAPLAIN:
"Our dear Heavenly Father, may we become better Sons of the American Legion as we learn and teach by words and deeds, the principles of justice, freedom, democracy and loyalty. Be with us until we meet again. AMEN."
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:
 "The Color Bearer will retire the Flag of our Country."
 
As the Color Bearers retrieve the Colors, the Commander shall give the command:
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:
"Hand Salute" (as Colors are retired and as the Color Bearer reach the rear of the meeting hall, the command "Two" is given by the Commander.)
 
SQUADRON COMMANDER:
"I now declare this meeting of ____________ Squadron, No. ____________, the Sons of the American Legion, adjourned."
 
The Commander gives one rap of the gavel.