Boy, 7, Earns Award From Belleville Sons Of American Legion

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 105. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Jake Myers of Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron 105 received the Ten Ideals Award at a regular meeting of the Squadron in September. Following a course of study, Myers became only the second young SAL in New Jersey to receive the award in 2022.

Alternate National Executive Committeeman (ANEC) Henry Hasselhan, of Squadron 311 Atco, presented Myers his award. As one of New Jersey’s representatives to the organization at a national level, it was an honor to have SAL Jake receive his award from a national delegate. Alongside the ANEC, Squadron 105 Commander Steve Sangemino presented the actual medal.

The certificate accompanying the medal reads “IN RECOGNITION OF HIS EFFORTS IN THE PROGRAM LEADING TO THE AWARDING OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION TEN IDEALS MEDAL.”

“There are a lot of older Sons who don’t have this”, noted ANEC Hasselhan at the meeting. “It’s very rewarding to see these young gentleman come up, because they are the ones who will be replacing us.”

Squadron Commander Sangemino remarked that “yesterday I remember when we had to help him [Jake Myers] onto the stool he was so small …. Now he’s winning national awards.” In echoing what ANEC Hasselhan commented, Sangemino said that “He’s part of the future of the SAL.”

The award – a medal suspended from a blue ribbon – is a national award for younger members, given out at the squadron level. It is given in recognition of completing a program of Patriotism, Health, Knowledge, Training, Honor, Faith, Helpfulness, Courtesy, Reverence, and Comradeship. Young Jake completed the course with his dad, Rusty Myers, who is the adjutant at Squadron 105 in Belleville, but is also the Children and Youth Commission Chairman at the state level for the SAL.

“I’m so very proud of Jake, in that he is one of the very few who have gone through this course”, remarked proud dad Rusty Myers. “I would love to push this program at the Detachment [state] level, and have squadrons throughout New Jersey do this with their younger members. It’s a great way to engage the youth in the organization and have them learn what it is to be a citizen and a member of the Sons of the American Legion, building tomorrows leaders.”

Following the meeting, with his garrison cap proudly adorned with his new medal, SAL Jake received both a round of applause and shouts of ‘Well dome!’ at the meeting and downstairs at the club. Jake, who is 7, has been a member for three years as an SAL, which has its membership open to the male descendants of honorably discharged veterans at birth. Myers is eligible for membership through his grandfather Russ Myers, a 52-year American Legion member of Whippanong Post 155, who served in the US Army in Vietnam.

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans. Founded in 1932, Sons of The American Legion exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires, and is open to all male sons and grandsons of eligible veterans.

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