SAL 2019-20 national awards announced

With the cancellation of the 2020 SAL National Convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, national Sons of The American Legion awards will be sent to the recipients’ detachment headquarters for distribution and/or presentation.

Here are the 2020 SAL national awards:

Membership Committee Awards

National Regional Membership Award (first detachment to reach quota in each region, minimum of 200 members as of Dec. 31 of the previous year):

• South Region: Detachment of Mississippi; Nov. 21, 2019

• Midwest Region: Detachment of South Dakota; Feb. 19, 2020

• West Region: Detachment of Idaho; Feb. 19, 2020

• Central Region: Detachment of Iowa; April 2, 2020

• East Region: Detachment of France; June 8, 2020

Hartline Award (detachment chartering the most new squadrons, July 1-June 30):

• Detachment of Illinois, nine squadrons

Largest Squadron Award (as of Dec. 31 of the previous year):

• Newport Harbor Inc. Squadron 291, Newport Beach, Calif.; 1,604 members

Highest renewal percentage detachment by region (minimum of 200 members as of Dec. 31 of the previous year):

• Midwest Region: Detachment of South Dakota, 99.14%

• South Region: Detachment of Louisiana, 98.46%

• East Region: Detachment of France, 97.95%

• Central Region: Detachment of Iowa, 92.45%

• West Region: Detachment of California, 82.54%

90% renewal detachments (as of the 105% Target Date Report):

Detachment of Alabama, 90%

• Detachment of France, 97.95%

• Detachment of Hawaii, 103.7%

• Detachment of Illinois, 91.55%

• Detachment of Iowa, 92.45%

• Detachment of Louisiana, 98.46%

• Detachment of Mississippi, 94.72%

• Detachment of Nebraska, 90.09%

• Detachment of North Dakota, 92.01%

• Detachment of Philippines, 109.09%

• Detachment of Puerto Rico, 123.08%

• Detachment of South Dakota, 99.14%

Arthur D. Houghton Trophy (detachment with greatest percentage increase over previous year):

• Category I (200-1,000 members): Detachment of South Dakota, 125.143%

• Category II (1,001-3,000 members): Detachment of Alabama, 106.79%

• Category III (3,001-6,000 members): Detachment of Iowa, 105.691%

• Category IV (6,001-12,000 members): Detachment of Arizona, 97.597%

• Category V (12,000-plus members): Detachment of Florida, 100.519%

Triple Nickel Award (Any detachment with 105% of quota, 5 new squadrons, and 85% renewal rate, all by July 1):

• Detachment of Iowa, 105.6% of quota, eight new squadrons, 92.05% renewal rate

• Detachment of Wisconsin, 105.609% of quota, five new squadrons, 86.69% renewal rate

Child Welfare Foundation Committee Awards

U.S. “Udie” Grant Legacy Award (highest Legion Family donation): Department of Florida, $46,937.15

Garland D. Murphy Jr. Award (highest detachment donation): Detachment of Pennsylvania, $31,959.96

Excellence Award (highest detachment per capita donation): Detachment of Hawaii, $6.73

Meritorious Achievement Award (greatest detachment per capita increase): Detachment of Hawaii, $6.73

Highest monetary donation by region:

• East Region: Detachment of Pennsylvania, $31,959.96

• South Region: Detachment of Florida, $22,620

• Central Region: Detachment of Indiana, $16,635.27

• West Region: Detachment of Arizona, $14,235

• Midwest Region: Detachment of Colorado, $14,001

Highest per capita donation by region:

• West Region: Detachment of Hawaii, $6.73

• Midwest Region: Detachment of Colorado, $5.21

• South Region: Detachment of Virginia, $3.63

• East Region: Detachment of Vermont, $2.83

• Central Region: Detachment of Iowa, $0.98

$2 per capita donation:

• Detachment of Arizona, $2.04

• Detachment of Arkansas, $3.47

• Detachment of Colorado, $5.21

• Detachment of Hawaii, $6.73

• Detachment of North Carolina, $2.20

• Detachment of Oregon, $2.34

• Detachment of Philippines, $4.94

• Detachment of Vermont, $2.83

• Detachment of Virginia, $3.63

• Detachment of Wyoming, $2.75

$1 per capita donation:

• Detachment of Alabama, $1.43

• Detachment of Alaska, $1.22

• Detachment of Delaware, $1.02

• Detachment of Florida, $1.18

• Detachment of Georgia, $1.27

• Detachment of Louisiana, $1.66

• Detachment of Massachusetts, $1.06

• Detachment of Mississippi, $1.66

• Detachment of Montana, $1.31

• Detachment of Nebraska, $1.40

• Detachment of New Jersey, $1.15

• Detachment of South Carolina, $1.71

• Detachment of Utah, $1.02

• Detachment of West Virginia, $1.45

National History Contest Awards

Awards will be judged at the 2021 SAL National Convention.

Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Committee Awards

Kirby Kepler Memorial Award (best VA&R report):

• Squadron: Sylvester Squadron 335, Sylvester, Ga.

• District: No report data available.

• Detachment: No report data available.

Charles B. Rigsby Volunteer of the Year Award: Nick Arceo, George C. Evans Squadron 103, Littleton, Colo.

Americanism Committee Awards

Atwood-Beyea-York Memorial Award (best Americanism program):

• Squadron: Dodge County Squadron 126, Eastman, Ga.

• District: No report data available.

• Detachment: No report data available.

Highest NEF per capita donation by region:

• Midwest Region: Detachment of Wyoming, $1.76

• South Region: Detachment of Arkansas, $1.29

• West Region: Detachment of Alaska, $1.12

• East Region: Detachment of Connecticut, $0.60

• Central Region: Detachment of Iowa, $0.49

Legacy Scholarship Fund awards by region (highest monetary donation):

• Central Region: Detachment of Illinois, $3,611

• Midwest Region: Detachment of Kansas, $500

• South Region: Detachment of Florida, $500

• East Region: Detachment of New York, $275

• West Region: Detachment of Arizona, $175

Community service scrapbook contest awards will be judged at the 2021 SAL National Convention.

Children & Youth Committee Awards

Best regional squadron Children & Youth report (based on Consolidated Squadron Report Form data):

• East Region: Chili Squadron 1830, Scottsville, N.Y.

• South Region: Veterans Memorial Squadron 347, Lady Lake, Fla.

• Central Region: Charles B. Reeve Squadron 27, Plymouth, Ind.

• Midwest Region: Fort Owen Squadron 94, Stevensville, Mont.

• West Region: Seaside Squadron 99, Seaside, Ore.

Best overall Children & Youth report (based on Consolidated Squadron Report Form data):

• Squadron: Carlisle Bennett Squadron 13, Albuquerque, N.M.

• District: No report data available.

• Detachment: No report data available.

The American Legion Endowment Fund detachment awards:

• Harry W. Colmery Legacy Award (highest monetary donation): Detachment of Colorado, $1,460

• James A. Drain Founder’s Award (highest per capita donation): Detachment of Colorado, $19.21

Legislative Commission Award

George B. Evans Grassroots Veterans’ Advocate of the Year: Dennis Theobald, Edward H. Bitzer Squadron 27, Muscatine, Iowa

Public and Media Communications Committee Awards

Snapshots of Service Award:

• Americanism:

1. Susquehanna Squadron 135, Perryville, Md.

2. Charles L. Futch Squadron 189, Sebastian, Fla.

• Children & Youth:

1. Franklin Squadron 193, Ohiowa, Neb.

2. Berkeley Squadron 14, Martinsburg, W.Va.

• National Security:

1. No entries submitted

• Veterans Affairs:

1. Colonial Heights Squadron 284, Colonial Heights, Va.

2. Samuel G. Cook Squadron 267, Columbus, Ga.