On November 11th the nation will celebrate Veterans Day as it honors all who served our country. It will be the fourth anniversary of the start of Shelby SAL Squadron #82 and the 104th anniversary of the American Legion.

In the summer of 2019, Jim Quinlin talked about starting an SAL Squadron at the Shelby American Legion Post. Five months later, twenty-five charter members formed Squadron #82. To become a SAL member, one's father or grandfather had to serve in the military and be a Legion member. Post 82 members encouraged their sons, grandsons, and Legion members to be part of the charter class.

Officers were elected at the first meeting, and they set their sights on focusing on two things - helping veterans and helping the community. In March 2020 Covid hit and the Squadron still met using Zoom. Commander Dr. Jack Weller and the American Legion Family of Organizations (ALFO) worked on its first major project, to identify and place flags on the graves of all veterans at Shelby's Sunset and Webb Memorial Cemeteries. For three Saturdays groups of ALFO members walked the cemeteries and identified over 1,100 veterans graves. As arrangements were being finalized for a ceremony on Memorial Day, the group volunteered to help form the American Legion Color and Honor Guard. Under the direction of Navy veteran and SAL member Bob Bona, the Color Guard honors veterans at ceremonies, parades, and funerals.

Opportunities continued to arise in the community as the Squadron helped coordinate a flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day, June 14. It was a special event for SAL Sgt-at-Arms Cy Cook collaborated with his grandfather, David Rose, AL Sgt-at-Arms for over forty years in conducting the ceremony. The Squadron under the direction of Chaplain Roger Cox worked to have the community law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMT's recognized as part of the National Day of Remembrance on Sept. 11.

Over the next four years the Squadron expanded its projects to coordinating the ALFO to collect toiletries for veterans at the VA Hospital who did not have personal hygiene items. They support the Shepherd's Table Food Bank by raising funds to ensure that the organization has canned food and meat for their holiday meal. Working with the American Legion, the SAL members rang the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. SAL First Vice Commander Woody Weaver, a fifty-six year member of the American Legion, promoted Americanism by helping Squadron members earn the Five Point Medal by completing requirements for the award.

In 2021, the American Legion World Series (ALWS) asked the SAL Squadron to take over coordinating the ushers for the six day event. In 2023, over 40 community volunteers helped to usher and sell programs at the ALWS. Joining them were state and national SAL Commanders, the American Legion national Commander and his staff, and members of the North Carolina Detachment of the American Legion and National Executive Committee.

Zach Parker, current SAL Commander, is coordinating Wreaths Across America with the ALFO. The group has set a goal of placing over 600 wreaths on the graves of veterans on December 16th. Parker remarked, "We started with a vision to serve veterans and our community. We believe our service to these veterans is a way to honor our fathers and grandfathers who served our nation. We have grown to over 66 members that are across the United States. We have come a long way from the idea Jim Quinlan had in the summer of 2019"

If you are interested in learning more about the Sons of the American Legion, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sonsoftheamericanlegionsquad
ron82 or come to a meeting which is held at the American Legion Post on South Lafayette Street the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Or you may contact Commander Zach Parker or Adjutant Dr. Jack Weller at 704-473-5282.