A BRIEF HISTORY
Of the Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans
by Arthur T. Lou, PNP

The Society, Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans, was organized in the Spring of 1927. Its tenets were to perpetuate the memories of the men who served honorably in the War with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection and the China Relief Expedition; to carry on the fight for adequate and equitable legislation for the Veterans of ‘98 and for those widows and dependent minors in State and National Legislatures; and to concentrate their strength behind drives to keep this a land where the ideals of Washington, Jefferson and the Veterans own McKinley might always hold sway.

Not least in this enumeration of its objects, is the aim to have its members so conduct themselves at all times under all circumstances as to make their veteran fathers proud to call them “Son” and give into their care a heritage that is second to none!

TRIALS AND GROWTH

The subsequent growth of the Order was slow. Its path was beset with pitfalls that usually harass any pioneer movement; its leaders were challenged by the trials and tribulations attendant newly launched organizations. Practically all its early members were in their teens; few of its officers had ever had opportunity to try their hands at organization tasks; and seldom did they know much of parliamentary procedure. The leaders of each new unit had, with but few exceptions, to learn everything in the painful and costly “School of Experience.”

But with the determination that had been characteristic of their fathers before them, these pioneer “Sons” kept their groups together and bit by bit the movement spread from two to two, from city to city, from state to state.

Then a burst of enthusiasm swept the county. In all sections of the Nation units began springing up and in the year that followed more than thirty camps were chartered by National Headquarters of the United Spanish War Veterans. Recognition by parent groups of the potential value of the Sons was one of the prime reasons for this growth and it has continued steady over the intervening years. Over a hundred Camps had been chartered by General Headquarters of the U.S.W.V. for the Sons and four Departments were functioning by 1936. These were in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin, with California, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania in a formative stage.

RULES CHANGED

In the meanwhile the Rules and Regulations set up by the Veteran for the Sons’ Organization had been revised and allowed for the creation of a Sons’ National Organization when five state departments should have been formed. Early in 1937 California became a department. Since this was the fifth such State unit, the youthful Order was in line to become a National Body with its own headquarters, officers, etc.

At the 38th National Encampment of the United Spanish War Veterans at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., a National Administrator of the Sons of Spanish - American War Veterans was set up by the Veterans with full powers to create a National Organization of the Sons if and when he saw fit. At the same encampment steps were taken to permit the Sons into the U.S.W.V. as an affiliated group.

FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION

On the 24 of August 1937 in Columbus, Ohio at the 39th National Encampment of the United Spanish War Veterans, ten years after the institution of the original Camp, the Sons became a National Organization, elected National Officers, and became self-governing and accountable only to themselves and posterity. The first National President was Melvin R. Benisch. The Veterans had revised their constitution so as to admit the Sons into the U.S.W.V. as an affiliated group as well. The Organization is not a military body in any sense of the word, although many of its members are veterans in their own rights.