Sons of The American Legion Hold 33rd Annual Detachment Convention
The Sons of The American Legion along with the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the American Legion Junior Auxiliary from the State of Louisiana met at their annual Detachment Convention in Alexandria, LA on June 8th thru June 10th, 2007 at the Best Western Inn. Squadrons from throughout the state gathered for that weekend’s convention to approved the Mid Winter meetings notes, accept Commission and Committee appointments, determine the best program awards, present membership awards based upon that year’s membership, announce a Sons of The Year and the Commander’s Choice Award. Program awards are presented that day based upon a national consolidate reporting form. Each Squadron was mailed the form prior to convention so that they may be turned in at Convention for judging of the best overall performance within those programs. There were 14 of the 54 Squadrons that turned in reports. For the Americanism Program, it was awarded to Houma 31, for the Children and Youth, it was awarded to Lafayette 69, and for the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, and it was awarded to New Roads 248. Each Squadron was given a plaque with the program name, the year of the award, and the winner presented that day.
Citation of Achievement certificates were presented to 36 Squadrons that had reach 100% from last year membership total by the American Legion’s birthday in March of each year. The Commander presented membership awards. The largest Squadron award was presented to New Roads 248 with 136 members. The Squadron with the largest percentage growth less than 30 members from the previous year went to Monroe 521 and the Squadron with the largest percentage growth more than 30 members from the previous year went to Lockport 83. Commander LeJeune presented at the American Legion’s opening Session two Sons of the Year Award, a junior and a senior. These awards are presented to any member who has not held a Detachment position and must be submitted by the Post, Auxiliary, or the Sons member for nomination. The junior award was presented to Dylan Mott from Springfield 258 and the Senior Sons of the Year was presented to Matt Turner from Vinton 208. Each person was given a plaque, a distinguished guest pin which holds the 75th anniversary as well as the Sons 75th National Pin. The Commander Choice Award is presented to any member of the Sons, but especially those that have filled a Detachment position. From the Commander’s field of mentors, he selected Tommy Vassar, Sr. from Vinton 208 for his outstanding service to the Detachment as well as his Squadron.
Towards the end of the convention, the membership body elected new officers for the upcoming year. Newly elected officers included: Detachment Commander, Camille A. LeJeune, Jr. – New Roads 248 (2nd term); Detachment Vice-Commander, Dennis Bell – Koran 388; Detachment Vice-Commander, Jimmie Knight – Morgan City 96; National Executive Committeeman – Enos Bellanger – Harvey Marrero 222; Alternate National Executive Committeeman – David Parker, Lockport 83; Detachment Sergeant At Arms, Danny Howard – New Roads 248; Detachment Chaplain – Zachary Turner, Vinton 208; Detachment Color Bearer – Michael Ray, Houma 31; and Detachment Color Bearer – Brendon Rodrigue, Morgan City 96. At the post DEC, newly re-elected Commander, Camille LeJeune, Jr. made the following appointments, which were approved at the SAL Detachment Executive Committee. For Detachment Adjutant – Roy Daigle, Morgan City 96, Detachment Assistant Adjutant – Nelson Cheramine, III, Morgan City 96; Detachment Historian – Troy Higginbothan, New Roads 248, Detachment Judge Advocate – Tommy Vassar, Sr., Vinton 208; and Detachment Aid to the Commander- Whitney Fabre, New Roads 248.
This year the Sons are celebrating their 75th Anniversary and cake and punch was served prior to showing the film "Sons of The American Legion." This was the original movie that was done in 1933. Commander LeJeune presented each of his officers for 2006-2007 a 75th anniversary pin that can be worn on their dress covers.
Delegates to the National Convention, which will be held in Reno, NV, were also elected. Automatic delegates to the Convention included Byron Robichaux from Raceland 349 and Royce Doucet 315 from Galliano 315 as Past National Commanders. Commander Camille LeJeune, Jr. from New Roads 248 and Robert DeDual, National Executive Committeeman from Covington were the two other automatic. Elected delegates include Dennis Bell from Koran 388, Jimmie Knight from Morgan City 96, Enos Bellanger from Harvey Marrero 222, Ernest Hoitt from Crescent City 125, and Brett Kinney from Houma 31. Louisiana will be sending 9 delegates based upon that year’s membership.
