Hello, one more time for this year.

As I write this last message as your SAL National Commander, I can’t tell you how proud I am to do this job. I have to thank you for electing me and giving me the opportunity to represent my grandfather’s service and the Sons of The American Legion. I have tried to do the best job to represent the Sons in every visit, speech and project I have been a part of.

Over the last couple of years, the organization has been through many changes. One of those changes has been candidates and commanders sharing more information to make sure each of us are better prepared to serve this great organization. Thanks to Past National Commander Michael Fox for sharing everything he could with the candidates coming behind him, then Past National Commander Christopher Carlton for doing the same. I enjoyed working with them both to prepare and also to work with the candidates coming behind me. I know that Joseph Navarrete and Bill Clancy will continue to carry on what we have all been working for. The growth of the organization comes down to the blue cap members believing that the Sons of The American Legion is a great organization that needs to continue to grow and be a major part of the American Legion Family.

Working with all members of the Legion Family is crucial for the growth of the Family. When we all work together to get the word out on any and all of our programs, it will always be more successful. Helping each other grow will make us a bigger Legion Family, and a bigger Legion Family is a stronger Legion Family.

As I prepare to finish up the last month and enjoy the time with all of the Family, I hope you will find that this* year Family leadership worked well together and cared. Be The One is a mission that should carry on forever; we should always keep up the fight to save every life.

Over the last couple months, seeing the many different youth programs, I have to share that there are many great youth that are willing to keep this a better place in the future. Spending time at Boys Nation and Girls Nation leaves me thinking there is a better tomorrow if we continue to work for it all. We need to continue to teach Americanism 100%.

I could go on forever about what a great year we have had. I hope to celebrate with everyone in New Orleans and kick off another year that will hopefully take us all to higher highs.

We are the Sons, we represent our family!

Thank you all for a great year,

“Representing More Than Me”

Donald “JR” Hall

SAL National Commander