Disabled American Veterans
Auxiliary
Initiation Ritual
1980
General Instructions
No deviation from methods prescribed by Ritual is
allowed unless changed by order of the National Convention.
* One rap of the gavel, all members be seated.
** Two raps, Officers take their stations.
*** Three raps, all members stand.
The front of the Altar is that part nearest the
Commander’s station. The rear of the Altar faces the Senior Vice Commander’s
station.
Before the opening ceremony of regular meeting, the
Altar is covered with an Altar cloth, preferably blue with gold, with a closed
Bible on top. A white Altar cloth shall be used for Memorial Service.
Members who arrive late, pause upon entering the
room, salute the Flag, and pass quietly to a seat.
Only elected officers and/or Past Commanders of the
Auxiliary, in good standing, shall be permitted to conduct initiation
ceremonies, and Auxiliary Ritual MUST be used for initiation.
When obligation is administered to candidates, each
member will place her right hand over her heart, thus silently renewing her
obligation.
For convenience, or due to locations of piano, the
stations of Musician and Patriotic Instructor may be reversed.
Opening
COMMANDER sounds gavel, all be seated.
COMMANDER: Officers will please take then stations. If
an officer is absent the Commander appoints some member to fill the vacancy, for
the meeting.
COMMANDER: Sergeant-at-Arms, you will see that the door of our hall
is closed.
COMMANDER: Conductress present the Flag of our Country.
The Color Bearers, with the Colors are standing at
or just outside the doors entering the meeting hall, which shall be opposite the
Commander’s station. * * *.
CONDUCTRESS: Color Bearers, Forward March. The Color Bearers take their places behind the
Altar. The Conductress should halt the Colors and Banner Bearers 3 paces to rear
of Altar allowing sufficient space to cross Banner and Flag if necessary when
posting same on platform.
CONDUCTRESS: Madam Commander, the Colors are in
position to receive the respect due them.
COMMANDER: Members Salute. Salute
is given.
COMMANDER: The Chaplain will invoke the Divine Blessing. If
the Colors are in place, members stand * * *. The Chaplain advances to the
Altar. Opens Bible.
CHAPLAIN: We thank Thee, Almighty Father, for permitting us to
gather here again. Bless and keep our absent ones. Help each one of us to so
live, that the world may be better for our having lived. Bless and keep our
disabled veterans and help fit each for a long and useful life. May we, with Thy
help, ever be ready to lend a helping hand to each and every one of our needy
ones. Amen.
COMMANDER: The Patriotic Instructor will lead us in the “Pledge
of Allegiance to our Flag.”
PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTOR: Free your hands; stand at attention; place your right
hand over your heart; and join in the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag. “I
pledge allegiance to the flag of the
CONDUCTRESS: Post Colors. After
colors are posted the Chaplain returns to her station.
COMMANDER: Conductress and Assistant Conductress you may return to
your station. Color
and Banner Bearers take seats beside the Patriotic Instructor and Musician. At
the discretion of the Auxiliary our National Anthem, “The Star Spangled
Banner”, may be sung.
COMMANDER, *. All members be seated.
COMMANDER: Senior Vice Commander, what is the Purpose of the
Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary?
SR. VICE COMMANDER: The purpose of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary,
etc. (see National
Constitution, Article II, Section I) Where desired the entire unit may follow in
unison.
COMMANDER: Junior Vice Commander, what qualifications determine
eligibility for membership in the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary?
JR. VICE COMMANDER: The wife, widow, mother, sisters, daughters,
grandmothers, granddaughters, and great granddaughters of anyone who was injured
or disabled in line of duty while serving in the Armed Forces of the United
States of America, during time of war. Gold Star relatives of persons who were
killed or have since died of a disability, daughters, granddaughters, and great
granddaughters of members of the Auxiliary and any woman who is eligible for
membership in the Disabled American Veterans, shall be eligible for membership
in the Disabled
COMMANDER: This Auxiliary is now open for any business that may
properly come before it.
COMMANDER: Sergeant-at-Arms, admit any member who may be waiting. The
Conductress
escorts in any visitors. If there are any distinguished guests present, the
Commander asks the Conductress to escort them to the rostrum. Each one is
escorted to the Altar and presented to the Commander, and is then escorted
around one of the colors at the Commander’s station. No one should pass
between the Altar and the Commander’s station.
COMMANDER: The Adjutant will call the roll of officers.
Sergeant-at-Arms stands and answers to roll call
for officers both present and absent.
Initiation
COMMANDER: We are now ready to proceed with the initiation. You are
requested to remain silent during the ceremony.
COMMANDER: The Adjutant will call the names of the candidates. As
the names are called, the candidates shall retire to the rear of the room.
COMMANDER: Conductress, you will take your station at the left of
the Altar. Assistant Conductress, you will retire to the rear of the room and
escort the candidates to the altar.
Instructions: Assistant Conductress shall stand at
the right of the candidates.
COMMANDER: The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, cherishes four
great principles COMRADESHIP, LOYALTY, SERVICE and DEVOTION Before you are
privileged to assume these obligations, you will be instructed in these four
principles.
COMMANDER: COMRADESHIP is the first principle of our organization.
It is a term that emphasizes true friendship. Application of this principle is
essential to any organization, without it only strife and discord would prevail,
but with it, all good things are possible. In service and in suffering for a
noble cause, Comradeship was born. It continues to influence our lives, through
fellowship in the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Candidates. I counsel
you, be true to the ideals of Comradeship. May you always exemplify in spirit
and in practice, the first principle of
COMMANDER: Conductress, you will present these Candidates to the
station of the Junior Vice Commander, who will instruct them in LOYALTY
JR VICE COMM.: This station exemplifies LOYALTY, the second principle
of our organization. Loyalty is a basic virtue. Without Loyalty there can be no
true Comradeship Candidates, I admonish you, be loyal to your loved ones. Be
loyal to your Disabled American Veterans.
JR VICE COMM.: Conductress, you will present these Candidates to the
Senior Vice Commander, who will instruct them in SERVICE.
SR VICE COMM.: Through the ages, womanhood has been synonymous of
Service. Service to the wounded and afflicted. Service to those who bear the
visible and invisible scars in defense of their country. Service to the families
of those who paid the supreme sacrifice. I admonish you, as a member of this
organization, to stand ready to serve as a mark of faith in the ideals and
principles for which our loved ones fought and died Service strengthens the
ideals of Comradeship, Loyalty and Devotion.
SR VICE COMM.: Conductress, present the Candidates to the station of
the Chaplain, who will counsel them in DEVOTION.
CHAPLAIN: You now stand before the station which exemplifies
DEVOTION. You have already been instructed in Comradeship, Loyalty, and Service.
These three, with Devotion, constitute the basis of our organization. I admonish
you, in Comradeship and in Loyalty and in Service, be devoted to your God and
your Country, and to the best interest of our Disabled Veterans and their
families.
CHAPLAIN: Conductress, you will present these Candidates at the
Altar. Commander
remains at her station while giving the obligation.
COMMANDER: Are you willing to assume the obligation of the Disabled
American Veterans Auxiliary?
CANDIDATES: I am
Obligation
COMMANDER, * * *, members stand: You will place your right hand over your heart and
repeat after me, using your name where I use mine: I, …, solemnly promise
and declare, I will always uphold and maintain the Constitution and Laws
of the United States, and will always show the proper courtesy to the Stars and
Stripes and will give it the love and devotion it merits. I further promise,
always to aid and assist any disabled veteran or any member of his family, that
I will do my best to exemplify the purpose of this organization, which is based
upon Comradeship, Loyalty, Devotion, and Service. I further pledge that I will
support the Constitution and By-Laws of the D.A.V. Auxiliary, and obey the
Officers of Local, State and National.
COMMANDER: You may lower your hand. *.
COMMANDER: You are now privileged to wear the emblem of the
Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, which symbolizes
COMMANDER: Members, I now present to you, our new members.
Adjutant should prepare list of members, so
Commander may present new members by name.
COMMANDER: Members, you
will be seated with the members of our Auxiliary.
Closing Ceremony
COMMANDER: The business of this meeting has been accomplished. We
will now have our closing ceremonies.
COMMANDER: You will face the East, stand at attention in devoted
memory of our departed Comrades. Though they have gone West they face the East
as the sun rises for them on a new day. Pause.
COMMANDER faces the Altar: Hand salute! Two!
COMMANDER: The Chaplain will give the closing prayer.
Chaplain advances to the Altar, gives prayer.
CHAPLAIN: Dear Heavenly Father, bless and keep our Auxiliary
members as we are about to leave this meeting. Help us to be worthy and loyal
members, forgiving in spirit, charitable to all mankind and ever ready to assist
our disabled veterans. Amen. Close
Bible.
COMMANDER: Conductress retire the Colors. Colors are now retired to the rear of the hall.
Color Bearers remain there. As Colors are retired Chaplain returns to her
station.
COMMANDER, *: We are adjourned to meet again. Specify date of next meeting.