Sons of The American Legion
COMMANDER’S MESSAGE…by Gaither E. Espey
Commanders Message
Post- ConvenƟon 2024
Fellow Sons,
Let me start by thanking you for
elecƟng me as your Detachment
Commander. It is an honor that
the Delegates at our 50th Detach-
ment ConvenƟon in Niagara Falls
have entrusted the posiƟon of
Commander to me. I promise all
that I will represent this Detach-
ment to the best of my ability.
The Detachment had a banner
year with our membership, reach-
ing a record high of 31,636. Na-
Ɵonally, New York is the 4th largest
Detachment. Squadron’s sƟll can
transmit 2024 renewals to get this
number even higher. We are only
526 members away from taking
the 3rd spot away from Ohio.
Commander DeAngelis had the
Detachment in “Work Mode” last
year. I would like all of you to stay
in “Work Mode” and add my
theme of “Geƫng Back to Basics”.
The Sons of The American Le-
gion was formed as a program of
the American Legion at the 14th
Annual ConvenƟon held in Port-
land Oregon (1932). Our purpose
was and sƟll is, to assist the Ameri-
can Legion and the American Le-
gion Programs.
My projects for the year are The
Child Welfare FoundaƟon and
Temporary Financial Assistance
New York. Both American Legion
Programs.
CongratulaƟons to all the elect-
ed and appointed Detachment
Officers, District & County Officers
and especially to all the Squadron
Officers. Looking forward to work-
ing with you all and to having an-
other banner year.
I am looking forward to meeƟng
and talking with members as we
start the State on our County visit-
aƟon tour.
The Detachment ExecuƟve
meeƟng is being held October
25&26, 2024 @ Lake George Post
- See the Detachment website
for the meeƟng call. We are very
fortunate to have NaƟonal Sons of
The American Legion Commander
Joseph Navarrete scheduled to
aƩend.
In closing, I would like to thank
each and every one of you for all
your dedicated service to the Sons
of The American Legion.
God Bless you, our Veterans and
the United States of America.
Gaither E. Espey
Detachment Commander
Detachment of New York Troy, NY 12180
(518) 463-2215
Post- Convention 2024 Edition
1304 Park Blvd.
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 2
FROM THE ADJUTANT’S DESK…by Timothy Van Patten II
Fellow Members,
The Sons of The American Legion just concluded the 52nd Annual NaƟonal ConvenƟon in New Orleans,
LA. Our Detachment registered all of its 70 delegates, with 25 in actual aƩendance, and 9 guests.
Joseph Navarrete from New Mexico was elected as our NaƟonal Commander. Robert Manzo (MD) was
elected NaƟonal Vice Commander for the Northeastern Region.
The Detachment received its 100% membership banner ribbon. We also received an award for a 90% or
more renewal rate by the 100% Target Date. We were at 91.62%. Seeley B. Parish Squadron 457 in Phelps
received the First Place Video of Service Award in the Program Support category. Also, ScoƩ Hubbard of
Squadron No. 457 received the Squadron Commander of the Year Award. Detachment Commander Gaither
E. Espey received his diploma for successful compleƟon of the Detachment Commander Class.
Past Detachment Commander William Clancy is now the Leading Candidate for NaƟonal Commander.
We are asking for support from the New York American Legion Family in this endeavor. There are many
costs associated with a campaign at this level.
The appointed NaƟonal Officers from New York for 2024-2025 are: Assistant Adjutant Robert Avery and
Assistant Sgts-at-Arms Greg Falco and Timothy Brower. As for NaƟonal Commissions and CommiƩees, Jo-
seph Guidice, Jr. was appointed Vice Chairman of the Public and Media CommunicaƟons Commission. Tim-
othy S. Van PaƩen, II was appointed the Vice Chairman of the ConvenƟon CommiƩee and the Vice Chair-
man of the Ad-Hoc “Be the One” CommiƩee. Other exisƟng Commission members from New York remain
to complete their terms.
Robert J. Avery
Detachment Adjutant Emeritus
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 3
ADJUTANT, etc. …by Robert J. Avert
Fellow Members,
All Squadrons need to remember to complete the following forms EVERY year:
Officer CerƟficaƟon Form (OCF)
Squadron Data Report (SDR)
Consolidated Squadron Report (CSR)
We now track compliance with these 3 reports so that contact can be made with the Squadrons that we
have not heard from.
We only had 17% of our Squadrons submit a CSR this year. This needs to be a top priority next year!
Upcoming events include:
Fall 2024 NEC MeeƟng October 4-6, 2024
Washington Conference March 2-5, 2025
Spring 2025 NEC MeeƟng May 2-4, 2025
53rd Annual NaƟonal ConvenƟon August 22-24, 2025 – Tampa, FL
Let’s have a banner year again on Membership…..and please remember to report your acƟviƟes by use of
the CSR.
For the Good of the SONS,
Robert J. Avery
Detachment Adjutant Emeritus
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 4
Bill Clancy for National Commander of The Sons of The American Legion
Fellow Sons.
At the conclusion of the 52nd Annual NaƟonal ConvenƟon last month in
New Orleans, Bill Clancy from New York became the “Leading Candidate” for
NaƟonal Commander of the Sons of The American Legion. In less than 12
months, one of our very own New York members will become the leader of our
organizaƟon if elected in Tampa, FL. in August.
We are asking for financial support in this expensive endeavor. Candidate Bill
will be traveling to many Detachments this year, he will host various recep-
Ɵons, and he will have costs associated with campaign publicaƟons and hand-
out items.
That is why we would like every Squadron to donate what they can and be a
part of this exciƟng undertaking. All New York members should be proud to
offer their support!
Please donate what you can!
Checks should be made payable to
“American Legion Bill Clancy SAL Fund”
and mailed to:
American Legion Department HQ
1304 Park Boulevard, Troy NY 12180.
Thank You!
Robert J. Avery
Campaign Secretary
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 5
Walk-A-Thon…by Christopher R. Cerullo, PNC
Sons Members.
On behalf of the Detachment of New York Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxilia-
ry we would like to thank you all for every donaƟon that you made for the 2024 Walk-A-Thon.
If you gave $5, or if you gave $100, or if you gave $1,000, that’s what it took to raise over $66,000.00!!
For my first Ɵme being Detachment Walk A Thon chairman, I found it very exciƟng to see where all this
money came from. Auxiliary Units, Squadrons, Riders, and Legion Posts. Some of the stories are so great,
and being the 2025 chairman once again I hope that these stories conƟnue! Don’t just mail the in the
check, tell your local members how and why you raise this money and how they can be a part of it, too.
They can go beyond the Legion Post – they can go to that workplace, they can go to their families and
friends, too. I know with the help that we had during this past year, 2025 is going to be an outrageous
year for the Walkathon.
Please contact me, Christopher Cerullo, at 347-418-7172. If you have any ideas share them with me and
maybe I can help you. Every County and District should be picking a Walkathon Chairman and you should
work together with your Legion Family. Please, take pictures and arƟcles put them in your local newspa-
per. There’s always someone in the community like a school teacher that just might want to get involved
when they hear about the great work you are doing. And when our Detachment Vice Commanders and
District Commanders receive the checks to be presented at the VA please invite your Auxiliary members to
go with you.
In closing, Department Auxiliary Chairman Marie Santacroce and I BOTH once again say:
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 6
Public Relations—A Look Back
Sons Members,
Courtesy of our Esteemed Adjutant Emeritus, Robert J. Avery, here’s snapshot of the first two
pages of the very first issue of our Detachment NewsleƩer from the Fall of 1998. Enjoy!!
Joe Guidice
Vice Commander
Public RelaƟons Chairman
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 7
Public Relations—A Look Back
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 8
50th Annual Detachment Convention—Niagara Falls NY
July 16-18, 2024
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 9
50th Annual Detachment Convention—Niagara Falls NY
July 16-18, 2024
D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 10
52dAnnual National Convention—New Orleans, LA.
August 23-25, 2024
Share The Pride-Build the Pride
V O L U M E 1 4 I S S U E 1 D E T A C H M E N T O F N E W Y O R K N E W S L E T T E R PAGE 11
Detachment Commander Peter DeAngelis presented the
Tusten Youth Commission with a check for $15,609.00
from the Detachment. The monies were raised as the
Commander’s personal project for the 2023-2024 year.
On July 28, 2024 the Madison County Sons held their 1st An-
nual Softball Game between Oneida Squadron 169 and Canas-
tota Squadron 140 . The game was a fundraiser to help with
the costs of forming a Madison County SAL Color Guard.
6th District Commander Dusty Quick tossed the ceremonial
first pitch!
Have some news or event you’d like to Share??
We want to hear from you!!
Squadron Commanders, County and District Commanders, ALL members of the Sons, please let us know what you are do-
ing and what you have accomplished in pictures and in words. We don’t need long essays, just capƟons to pictures showing
your members in acƟon. (PLEASE: Send pictures in .JPG or .PNG format, and make them individual image files, not in col-
lage or combined formats). SEND SUBMISSIONS TO PR CHAIRMAN JOE GUIDICE libertysalnyeditor@gmail.com
