Disabled American Veterans
Initiation Ritual

1949  

Opening Ceremony

PREPARATION: Before the Opening Ceremony commences, the Altar is prepared by draping it with theU.S.A. flag, theUnion (field of stars) in the left corner nearest the Commander’s station, a closed Bible on top. The Color Guards, with the colors, are standing at or just outside the doors entering the meeting hall, which should be at the end of the room opposite the Commander’s station. All officers are at their respective stations; if an officer is absent, the Commander appoints some member to fill the vacancy, for the ceremony, before the ceremony starts.
COMMANDER, raps gavel, calling meeting to order. Assembly remains seated: Members of Chapter …, No. … Disabled American Veterans, you are called to order for the opening ceremony.
COMMANDER: Comrade Senior Vice-Commander, what is the usual procedure in opening a Chapter meeting of the Disabled American Veterans?
SENIOR VICE-COMMANDER: Comrade Commander, in opening the ceremony of our meetings, it is fitting and proper that we first present the National Colors and render the respect due them by all citizens of our beloved Country, and that we be reminded of the principles upon which this organization is founded.
COMMANDER, raps gavel three times, all rise: Comrades, ATTENTION!
Officer of the Day, prepare the Chapter Room by placing the Colors in their proper position at the Altar.
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Color Guards, Forward MARCH!
The Color Guards take their places behind the Altar; the Guard carrying the National U.S.A.flag; the Guard carrying the Chapter D.A.V. colors. The Officer of the Day takes his position, opens the Bible, then salutes the Commander, and says:
Comrade Commander, the Colors are in position.
COMMANDER: Comrades, ATTENTION!
By the numbers: Hand SALUTE! TWO!
Comrades, we will now be led in prayer.
Place DAV caps at left shoulder.
CHAPLAIN, takes position behind Altar, between Color Guards: God, be merciful unto us, and bless us. Cause Thy Face to shine upon us that Thy way may be known upon earth, and Thy saving strength among all people. Let the people be glad and sing for joy, for Thou shalt judge them righteously, and govern the Nations upon earth.
Especially do we pray that we may have Thy guidance to the end that we may each of us firmly uphold the great principles of this organization.
Amen.
COMMANDER: Comrades, ATTENTION!
Members replace caps on head.
Officer of the Day, post the Colors.
OFFICER OF THE DAY salutes Commander, who returns salute: Color Guards, right FACE, forward MARCH.
Chaplain retires to his Station, Officer of the Day, by proper commands, places Color Guards in position to post colors, as shown on Chart.
Color Guards, post Colors!
Comrade Commander, the Colors have been posted. Salutes Commander who returns salute.
Color Guards, dismissed.
Color Guards take seats near Colors. Officer of the Day returns to his station.
COMMANDER raps gavel once, seating audience: Comrade Senior Vice-Commander, what is the principle for which your Station stands?
SENIOR VICE-COMMANDER: Comrade Commander, this Station symbolizes Comradeship, a term that emphasizes true friendship. True friendship is essential to any fraternity. Without it, only strife and discord would prevail, but with it all good things are possible. It is my duty to encourage friendship among members of this organization, and to that end I shall counsel with all members and to the utmost of my ability discourage discord and promote harmony.
COMMANDER: Comrade Junior Vice-Commander, what is the principle for which your Station stands?
JUNIOR VICE-COMMANDER: Comrade Commander, this Station symbolizes Loyalty, by which we mean helpfulness. It is my duty to help those comrades who may call upon me for assistance, and particularly to see that every comrade is given the opportunity to express himself and state his views on any subject under discussion in a meeting of this Chapter.
COMMANDER: Comrade Chaplain, what is the principle for which your Station stands?
CHAPLAIN: Comrade Commander, this Station symbolizes Devotion. Devotion to this organization and the principles upon which it is founded. Devotion to our Comrades in hospitals and Devotion to the memory of those comrades who have gone ahead of us. It is my duty to visit the sick and to comfort and assist the families of those of us who from time to time are called to that Great Beyond.
COMMANDER: Officer of the Day, what does my Station symbolize?
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Equality.
COMMANDER: Comrades, I shall try earnestly to hold at even balance the scales of Justice, and to encourage at all times the speaking of the Truth. I shall grant the utmost liberty of act and word to each member as long as he respects the rights of every other member. In this way, I can best exemplify the Spirit of Equality, and to this end you owe me your aid and good-will.
COMMANDER: I now declare this meeting open for the transaction of such business as may rightfully come before it.
 
 
Initiation of Recruits
 
When recruits are to be initiated, military procedure is to be observed throughout the ceremony. Talking, smoking and moving about the room, except in the performance of duty, are forbidden.
COMMANDER: Comrade Officer of the Day, the Officer of the Day presents himself and stands at ATTENTION. Retire to the ante-room and prepare the recruits for initiation.
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Comrade Commander, your orders will be obeyed. He salutes.
The Officer of the Day retires to the anteroom, instructs the recruits to conduct themselves during the ceremony with military dignity.
He forms them to march in single or double file according to number of recruits. When all is ready, he raps on the inner door for admittance.
Sergeant at Arms opens the door.
SERGEANT AT ARMS: Who comes demanding entrance to this Chapter room of the Disabled American Veterans?
OFFICER OF THE DAY, standing in open door: The Officer of the Day with recruits.
SERGEANT AT ARMS: Comrade Commander, the Officer of the Day with Recruits desires admittance.
COMMANDER: Sergeant at Arms, admit the Officer of the Day with recruits.
SERGEANT AT ARMS: Officer of the Day with recruits, ADVANCE !
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Recruits, ATTENTION! Forward March!
Brings recruits to the Altar, facing the Commander, by way of Chaplain’s station. Recruits, HALT! Right FACE! The Officer of the Day takes position in rear of recruits. Comrade Commander, these are recruits who have proved themselves eligible to membership in this organization.
COMMANDER: Recruits, at EASE! On behalf of the Disabled American Veterans, I welcome you. Let me declare our purpose as a National Veteran Militant organization.
First.—To uphold and maintain the Constitution and the Laws of the United States.
Second.—To realize the American aims and ideals for which we fought.
Third.—To promote the welfare of disabled American veterans.
Fourth.—To cooperate with the Veterans’ Administration and all other public and private agencies devoted to our cause.
Fifth.—To apply the principles of comradeship, loyalty and devotion particularly among all disabled American veterans; and
Sixth.—To encourage in all people that spirit of understanding which will guard against future wars.
COMMANDER: Officer of the Day, conduct the recruits to the station of the Senior Vice-Commander to receive instruction in the principle of comradeship.
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Recruits, ATTENTION—Left FACE!—Forward MARCH!—Column left, MARCH!—Column left, MARCH! —Recruits, HALT! Right FACE! Officer of the Day takes position in rear of Recruits. Comrade Senior Vice-Commander he salutes, I present these Recruits to you to receive instruction in the principle of Comradeship.
SENIOR VICE-COMMANDER: Recruits, at EASE!—Comradeship, the first principle of our organization, is exemplified by this station. It is a term that emphasizes true friendship. An application of this principle is essential to any fraternity. Without it, only strife and discord would prevail, but with it, all good things are possible. When we were enlisted in the service of our Country to defend the ideals of democracy with the allied armies against the forces of autocracy, comradeship bound us together. The very utterance of the term brings to mind memories of military training camps, deep blue seas and transports, hospitals and hand-to-hand combat. In service and in suffering for a noble cause, Comradeship was born in our breasts, and continues to dominate our lives through fellowship in the Disabled American Veterans. Recruits, I counsel you, be true to the ideal of Comradeship. May you always exemplify in spirit and in practice the first principle of this organization. Officer of the Day he salutes, you will now conduct the recruits to the station of the Junior Vice-Commander to receive instruction in the principle of loyalty.
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Recruits, ATTENTION!—Right FACE!—Forward MARCH!—Column right, MARCH!—Recruits, HALT!—Left, FACE!—Comrade Junior Vice-Commander, he salutes I present these recruits to you for instruction in Loyalty.
Officer of the Day has position in rear of recruits.
JUNIOR VICE-COMMANDER: Recruits, at EASE!—This station exemplifies Loyalty, the second principle of our organization. Loyalty is a basic virtue. Its highest expression in this organization is helpfulness.
Comradeship and Devotion without Loyalty in acts of helpfulness are mere passing whims.
Virtues without Loyalty are entirely lacking in essential qualities which recommend them to the favorable consideration of mankind. Recruits, I admonish you, if you would be Comrades in this organization, be loyal to your loved ones and to your Country, and if you would be worthy of the Comradeship here to be conferred upon you, be loyal to your Comrades in the Disabled American Veterans.
Officer of the Day, he salutes you will now conduct the Recruits to the station of the Chaplain to receive counsel in the principle of DEVOTION.
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Recruits, ATTENTION!—Left, FACE!— Forward, MARCH!—Column left, MARCH!—Column left, MARCH!—Recruits, HALT! Right, FACE! Officer of the Day takes position in rear of Recruits. Comrade Chaplain, I present these Recruits to you for instruction in the noble principle of DEVOTION.
CHAPLAIN: Recruits, at EASE!—You now stand before the station which exemplifies DEVOTION. You have already received instruction in Comradeship and Loyalty. These two with Devotion constitute the triune basis of our organization.
We deem it to be self evident that these principles are all equal in importance. Because you have already demonstrated the principles of Comradeship and Loyalty and Devotion in unselfish service to your Country and its Flag, your patriotism is without question. The organization of the Disabled American Veterans continues and extends their application. I admonish you, in Comradeship and in Loyalty, be Devotional in your attitude as Disabled Veterans; to your Country and to God.
Officer of the Day, he salutes conduct the Recruits to the Altar and present them again to the Commander to receive the obligation.
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Recruits, ATTENTION!—Right, FACE—Forward, MARCH!—Column right, MARCH!
When recruits, by additional commands of column Right, MARCH! have reached position in front of the altar, Officer of the Day halts them: Recruits HALT! Left, FACE! Comrade Commander, he salutes these Recruits have received instruction in Comradeship, Loyalty and Devotion.
I now present them to you to receive the obligation.
COMMANDER: Comrades, ATTENTION! Raps three times. All rise.
Comrade Officer of the Day, you may now retire to your station. The Commander goes to position front of Altar: Recruits, Raise your right hand.—Say ‘I’.—State your full name.—Repeat after me: I, …, do in the presence of Almighty God and my comrades here assembled, promise and declare that I will always uphold and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, and will always show the proper courtesies to our National Emblem, and give to it the love and the devotion it merits. I further promise insofar as feasible always to aid and assist any disabled comrade; that I will always uphold the integrity and character of a brother veteran; that I will do my best to exemplify the principles of Comradeship, Loyalty and Devotion. I further pledge that I will support and obey the Constitution and By-Laws of the National, State and Local organization. All of which I now affirm.
Comrades, our Chaplain will confer upon you the emblem of the Disabled American Veterans.
CHAPLAIN: Comrades, by reason of extraordinary service to your Country and the injury and suffering sustained by you in its behalf, you are now authorized to wear the token of active membership in the Disabled American Veterans. This emblem is of small intrinsic value; but the value of the things it represents is exceedingly great. The engraving thereon represents the figure of Columbiaconferring knighthood upon a kneeling soldier. This emblem can only be secured in the manner in which you now receive it. Be proud of it. It is a mark of distinction.
Confers Emblem: hands Official Lapel Button to each recruit.
As a soldier of the Republic and a true knight in the cause of liberty, wear this emblem and bear yourself in a manner that will reflect credit upon you and your comrades. As a member of this organization; be true, brave and loyal.
COMMANDER: Comrade Chaplain, you will now lead us in prayer.
Place DAV cap at left shoulder.
CHAPLAIN: God of Battles! Lord of the Universe! Father of all! Bestow Thy Divine Grace upon these, our New Comrades that they may be at one with us through Comradeship, Loyalty and Devotion. To Thy Holy Name be honor and glory forever, AMEN! Replace DAV caps.
Commander and Chaplain take their respective stations.
COMMANDER raps once, audience is seated: My comrades, on behalf of this Chapter, I welcome you as members. I invite you to take an active part in its activities, and expect you to attend its meetings. You may now take your place with your fellow members. Applause, as new members find seats in audience.
 
 
Closing Ceremony  
 
COMMANDER: Comrades, the purpose of our gathering here has been accomplished, but before we close, Comrade Junior Past Commander will you give us a word of guidance.
JUNIOR PAST COMMANDER: Let us always be mindful of the principles for which this organization stands: Comradeship; Friendship; Loyalty to principle and to our Comrades; Devotion to our cause. And let it be our motto: IF I CANNOT SPEAK GOOD OF MY COMRADE, I WILL NOT SPEAK ILL OF HIM.
COMMANDER: Thank you, Comrade Junior Past Commander.
Comrades, we are now ready to depart from this place until our time of meeting again
which is Before I declare you adjourned, it is fitting and proper that we again render Honor to the Flag of our Country.
ATTENTION. Raps gavel three times; all rise.
Comrade Officer of the Day, you will arrange the Colors at the Altar.
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Color Guards, fall in. Take Colors. Officer of the Day directs Guards to the Altar, as in Opening Ceremony, drops back, and salutes Commander.
OFFICER OF THE DAY: Comrade Commander, the Colors are arranged to receive the honors due them.
COMMANDER: Comrades, before us is the Flag of our Country.
Let us always be true to its ideals and worthy of its exalted traditions. Comrades, Salute the Colors! TWO!
Comrade Chaplin, you will lead us in prayer.
Members place caps at left shoulder.
CHAPLAIN, standing between Color Guards, behind Altar: May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and now unto the Eternal and All-wise Creator of the Universe and Preserver of our Nation, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Chaplain closes the Bible and retires to his station.
COMMANDER: Comrades, ATTENTION! Members replace caps. Comrade Officer of the Day, retire the Colors.
OFFICER OF THE DAY retires the Colors.
COMMANDER: I now declare this meeting of … Chapter, No. …, Disabled American Veterans, adjourned.

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