About Us
The Scottish–American Military
Society (SAMS) was founded and chartered in
North Carolina, April 12, 1981, as a non-profit organization with the following purpose:
“To preserve and promote Scottish and American Armed Forces customs, traditions,
and heritage”, by:
- Providing a forum for exchange of military history and genealogical information
- Conducting public education programs
- Presenting military student honor awards
- Supporting Scottish activities at Highland Games
- Making contributions to qualified scholarship funds or institutions
- Making appropriate charitable contributions
- Providing a fraternal atmosphere for members
The Society was founded as a veterans organization. The membership is
composed primarily of veterans of Scottish ancestry who have served –– or are
serving –– in the Armed Forces of the United States and the Commonwealth. If you
support the purposes shown above, we would welcome your membership if you
qualify. Membership is open to honorably discharged veterans or active duty or
reserve military persons who have served or are serving with any branch of the
United States or Commonwealth Armed Forces.
Honorary life memberships are given to members who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or the Victoria Cross.
See the membership page for more details...
Appropriate uniform for members while representing S-A.M.S.:
- Cover (i.e. Balmoral, Glengary, etc)
- Shirt of your branch of service
- Kilt or Trews of your clan or Regiment
- Kilt hose
- Brown or Black shoes
- Personal/Unit awards
Please download the S-A.M.S. Dress Code for a more detailed explaination of the appropriate uniform.
SAMS, also known as SAMS-OWN produces a quarterly journal. The Patriot is full of interesting articles and photos about military and veterans activities –– especially those relating to Scottish and American armed forces customs, traditions and heritage.
We have provided a copy of our Charter.
Our current 2010 By-laws are currently under Review by the Society Council. Amendments shall require the favorable vote of a majority of the votes cast by the active members of
the Society as shown on its rolls. An active member is a member whose dues are shown on the Society’s
records as currently paid up.
Amendment to IRC 501(c)(19) In view of the concern that many organizations might not continue to qualify for exemption because the number of war veterans was decreasing with the passage of time, Congress amended IRC 501(c)(19) on September 3, 1982, (Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982; Public Law 97-246) by deleting the requirement that 75 percent of the members be war veterans.
Footnote #2 (Lineal Descendants)
A veterans’ post or organization must meet the following requirements to be exempt under section 501(c)(19):
3. At least 97.5 percent of its members must be: present or former members of the United States Armed Forces, cadets (including only students in college or university ROTC programsor at Armed Services academies) or spouses, widows, widowers, ancestors, or lineal descendants of individuals referred to in the first or second bullet.
You can download a copy of the 2010 Bylaws by
clicking the following link 2010 National Bylaws.
Copyright 2000-2024, Scottish–American Military Society
Last Modified 03/24/2019-1633 hours WET
Please report problems to the SAMS National Webmaster