The Clear Lake American Legion Post 354 conducted the official swearing-in ceremony for its new chapter of the Sons of the American Legion (S.A.L.) Tuesday night at the Palmer Town Hall. The program included remarks from a number of visiting American Legion dignitaries, including Sixth District Commander Carl Moon, past S.A.L. National Commander and current Adjutant Douglas Bible and Membership Director Dennis Henkemeyer, with the latter two conducting the official ceremony.
The program began with a short meeting of the Clear Lake post conducted by Commander Dennis Wipper, Adjutant Bud Stimmler and Finance Officer Elmer Schmidt, who then turned the program over to Bible and Henkemeyer for the official ceremony for the 16 new S.A.L. members at the meeting.
The original idea to form a chapter of the S.A.L. in Clear Lake came from the late Brad Braun, who died in an accident on his farm in Clear Lake last year, and the ceremony on Tuesday night was in large part also in honor of him and his idea for the new chapter, Stimmler said.
The ceremony began with a prayer led by a retired U.S. Navy chaplain, after which Bible and Henkemeyer read out the regulations and requirements for the conduct of a chapter of the S.A.L. before conducting the swearing-in ceremony for the five elected officers for the new post and the presentation of the official charter for the new organization.
Officers elected included Commander Dave Stimmler, Vice-Commander Todd Engeldinger, Adjutant Bill Klatt, Finance Officer Jeff Waters and the Sergeant at Arms Brayden Braun, who is the grandson of Brad Braun and the youngest member of the new post.
The other S.A.L. members sworn-in on Tuesday included Keith Braun, Sean Strande, Tyler Strande, Aaron Strande, Lance Strande, Scott Braun, Donald Braun, Andrew Ristinen, Chad Alred, Tyler Marklowitz and Gary Doering.
The Sons of the American Legion was formed in 1932 and is open to all males of any age who had a parent who served in the U.S. Military and was eligible for membership in the American Legion, according to the S.A.L. website. Among other activities, the organization has raised $5.8 million in funds for the American Legion Child Welfare Fund since 1988, and has raised and donated more than $1 million for VA hospitals and homes around the nation.
(S.A.L. Members: The ceremony was conducted by S.A.L. national officers Dennis Henkemeyer and Douglas Bible (shown at left) and included S.A.L. members Commander Dave Stimmler, Vice Commander Todd Engeldinger, Adjutant Bill Klatt, Finance Officer Jeff Waters, Sergeant at Arms Brayden Braun and members Keith Braun, Sean Strande, Tyler Strande, Aaron Strande, Lance Strande, Scott Braun, Donald Braun, Andrew Ristinen, Chad Elred, Tyler Marklowitz and Gary Doering. )
