During our post meeting on February 12, 2024, Hudson, NY, American Legion Post 184 voted unanimously to revise Post Resolution 2024-001, “Rename Sons of the American Legion to Sons and Daughters of the American Legion.” The original resolution, which was passed during the October 9, 2023, Post Meeting, was reviewed at the Department of New York’s 2024 Mid-Winter Conference and returned with suggested revisions. After the revised resolution passed at the post level, it was sent to the Columbia County American Legion Committee. The county voted to forward the resolution to the Department of New York Resolutions Chairman for consideration. If the resolution passes the resolutions committee, it will be put up for a vote at the Department Convention in Niagara Falls this July, and on to National if it passes at the Department Convention.

Post Commander Eric De Kraai, who authored the resolution, said, "I am very proud of our post for passing this resolution! I'm proud of the Columbia County committee for voting to send it to the Department. The idea of a Sons and Daughters of the American Legion was brought to me by two women veterans who are members of our post! They were both at our February 12 meeting, one of them motioned to pass the resolution, the other seconded it, and it passed unanimously. I am glad they both got to witness as their idea passed our post unanimously!"

The Sons of the American Legion (SAL) was founded in 1932. Currently, only male descendants, adopted and stepsons of Legionnaires or veterans who either died in service during World War I, or who served honorably any time after December 7, 1941, can be members of SAL. If the resolution passes nationally, it would rename Sons of the American Legion to Sons and Daughters of the American Legion and expand eligibility in the program to include all descendants, adopted and stepchildren. Right now, there is no program within the American Legion family that stepdaughters and great-granddaughters (& beyond) can be a part of. However, stepsons and great-grandsons (& beyond) have been allowed to be part of SAL since its inception. Due to IRS regulations, the American Legion Auxiliary cannot expand its eligibility to allow stepdaughters or great-granddaughters (& beyond) to join. Furthermore, SAL remains the only gender-segregated entity of the Legion family. The Legion itself has been open to women since its founding, and the Auxiliary opened to all spouses, regardless of gender, in 2019.