The Scottish American Military Society Ltd

The Scottish American Military Society Ltd (SAMS) is a nonprofit international fraternal organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the customs, traditions, and heritage of both Scottish and American armed forces. Founded in 1978 and officially chartered in North Carolina in 1981, SAMS serves active, honorably discharged, and retired members of the US and HMS Commonwealth military forces who claim Celtic descent.

History and Founding

SAMS was created by a group of approximately a dozen men who convened at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 1978. These founding members, including Randy Downey, Hal Morrison, K. James Frazer, William J. Frazer, Lewis Spivey, and Robert Shaw, sought to form a veteran's organization that would unite past and present military members of Scottish ancestry. At a meeting held later that year in Banner Elk, North Carolina, Randy Downey was elected the first National Commander of the society. Since its inception, SAMS has grown to include over 50 posts throughout the United States and beyond.

Membership and Activities

Membership is open to men and women of all branches of the armed forces, past and present, who meet the criteria of Celtic descent. The organization emphasizes the formation of strong military bonds and participation in a variety of events such as parades, Highland Games, flag ceremonies, and military funerals.

SAMS is notably the official Color Guard for the Smoky Mountain Highland Games since 1982. The society actively supports military education by presenting engraved Scottish dirks to deserving ROTC cadets at universities such as the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and East Tennessee State University, as well as awarding medal sets to outstanding JROTC cadets across numerous high schools in Tennessee.

The organization maintains a tradition of egalitarianism within its ranks, eschewing military rank distinctions despite the diversity of experience among members, which has spanned from World War II privates to members of royal Scottish descent.

Mission

SAMS's mission centers on the preservation and promotion of the rich heritage of the Scottish and American armed forces. This includes fostering an awareness and appreciation of military customs and traditions tied to their Scottish and American roots.

Organizational Details

The Scottish American Military Society Ltd is registered as a nonprofit organization in the United States and continues to carry out its mission through its widespread network of posts and active participation in cultural and military commemorative events.

This overview reflects information current as of 2022, including leadership details such as Jason M Hudson serving as principal officer[1][2][3][4][5].