Founded in 1932, Sons of The American Legion exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires.

SAL members include all male descendants, adopted sons and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of veterans who died in service during World War I or since December 7, 1941, during the delimiting periods set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of The American Legion or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion. There shall be no form or class of membership except an active membership. 

Members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion comprise the Legion Family, which has a combined membership of nearly 3 million

Although the SAL has its own membership, the organization is not a separate entity. Rather, the SAL is a program of The American Legion. Many Legionnaires hold dual membership in the SAL The Sons organization is divided into detachments at the state level and squadrons at the local level.