THIS IS The American Legion Veterans strengthening American communities worldwide. The American Legion is the largest veterans service organization.
Working and volunteering in California operates a multi-county communities, states and around the world, ambulance service. Another, in Alabama, The American Legion has been dedicated offers after-school mentorship for students to veterans, troops, national security, seeking direction. A post in Connecticut youth and patriotism since its founding built, owns and operates a housing facility over a century ago. to help homeless veterans restart their lives. Nearly 2 million wartime veterans of the Local examples of The American Legion’s U.S. Armed Forces are members of The highest values are found worldwide, where American Legion. Joining them are nearly differences are made daily for individuals, 1 million members of the American Legion communities, states and the nation. Auxiliary, the nation’s largest patriotic The Legion’s fastest-growing women’s association, and more than membership segment is the post-9/11 375,000 Sons of The American Legion, male generation. More than 100,000 strong descendants of U.S. wartime veterans. They and increasing, these young veterans work as one great American Legion Family join hundreds of thousands more who of shared values, at more than 12,000 ocal have served in the U.S. Armed Forces posts worldwide, in all 50 states, the District since World War II. No matter the era, our of Columbia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin members are indelibly connected through America and Asia. love of country, hope for the future, As a federally chartered organization, remembrance of the fallen and duty above The American Legion upholds a sacred duty self. to provide free expert assistance for all who The Constitution. have served our country in the U.S. Armed Law and order. Forces, as well as their families. Americanism. The American Legion is at work today Memories of the Great Wars. in rural towns, urban neighborhoods, military installations and college campuses Individual obligation. everywhere. Peace, good will, prosperity, justice, Each local post has its own unique freedom and devotion to mutual identity, but they are all connected by helpfulness. common core values. A post in Puerto Such values are embedded in the Vallarta, Mexico, for instance, provides language of the Preamble to The American care for children with cerebral palsy, Down Legion Constitution. Generation after Syndrome and other serious diseases. The generation, one century to the next, the American Legion in Wyoming coordinates words have come to define a purpose as the state high school rodeo championships. meaningful today as ever before. An American Legion post in central
A legacy of American Legion accomplishments and impact
Consolidation of multiple disconnected Collaborated with Columbia University National leadership to help the Department federal offices, agencies and bureaus into to prove that exposure to the defoliant of Veterans Affairs improve health- one Veterans Administration in 1930 Agent Orange caused deadly diseases and care accessibility, accelerate benefits Formulating, drafting and fighting for adverse health conditions among veterans processing, update education assistance, passage of the GI Bill of Rights in 1944, Introduction, growth and continued and achieve employee and management which educated millions, triggered a half- administration of unparalleled youth accountability century of U.S. prosperity, revolutionized programs in government (Boys State and Leadership in veteran career services, higher education and made home Boys Nation); constitutional understanding including employer-applicant networking, ownership possible for average Americans and public speaking (American Legion a successful business task force, and representation in Washington to improve Oratorical Contests); healthy competition Establishment of a U.S. Flag Code and the military-to-civilian career transition standard rules of respect and display (American Legion Baseball and Junior Shooting Sports); and more The American Legion is the largest veterans service organization.
Services that make differences
Representing at no cost more than 700,000 Awarding college scholarships to children of veterans and their families seeking VA disability U.S. servicemembers killed or disabled while on and medical benefits every day. active duty since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Participating in more than 1,000 job fairs and other career events for veterans and their families Mentoring youth through American Legion Boys every year nationwide. State and Boys Nation, as well as local, state and national American Legion Oratorical Contests. Fighting for fair conversion of military experience into credit hours for civilian careers in Running hundreds of youth programs, specialized fields such as emergency medicine, including more than 3,000 Scouting units, nearly commercial driving, civil engineering and 4,000 American Legion Baseball teams, dozens hazardous materials handling. of Junior Shooting Sports clubs, Junior ROTC and Junior Law Cadet programs. Providing comfort items for hospitalized military personnel Providing citizenship and recovering from wounds and illnesses. naturalization education and support for legal immigrants Supporting and helping seeking to become Americans. homeless veterans Serving as the nation’s foremost Spending millions of volunteer authority on U.S. flag respect, hours at VA medical facilities at an procedures and code. estimated annual value of $20 million. Educating school children Supporting veterans suffering from on such topics as flag post‑traumatic stress disorder and respect, military service, traumatic brain injury. history and patriotism.
Addressing and lobbying Congress and the Providing and distributing U.S. flagsfor the White House to provide timely VA health care, graves of American military personnel laid to rest efficient benefits processing, effective GI Bill at overseas cemeteries. A legacy of American Legion accomplishments and impact education provisions, a decent quality of life for active-duty military personnel and other issues Demanding full accounting and repatriation, National leadership to help the Department important to Americans. when possible, of all U.S. military personnel listed of Veterans Affairs improve health- as prisoners of war or missing in action. care accessibility, accelerate benefits Assisting during natural disasters, from processing, update education assistance, converting local posts into clinics after hurricanes Participating at thousands of patriotic and achieve employee and management and tornadoes, to providing food, relief items and observances and events around the world accountability other needs to displaced citizens. each year at the local, state, national and Leadership in veteran career services, international levels. including employer-applicant networking, Providing financial assistanceto needy military a successful business task force, and and veteran families with young children at home. Handling honor guard services and memorial representation in Washington to improve tributes for fallen military personnel and veterans, the military-to-civilian career transition Awarding grants to organizations that provide from individual funerals to memorial dedications. support for children in need. Help us help others. Join now. FOR VETERANS Free assistance for veterans and families applying for VA benefits Relentless advocacy for a strong VA health-care system Free representation for veterans appealing claims decisions More than 1,000 job fairs and career events Support and assistance for homeless veterans FOR AMERICA’S YOUTH American Legion Baseball Scholarships Flag education programs Oratorical competitions American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Youth Cadet Law Enforcement program Anyone who has served federal active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces since Boys State and Boys Nation Dec. 7, 1941, and has been honorably discharged or is still serving, is eligible for membership in The American Legion. Junior ROTC Because eligibility dates remain open, all active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Scouting Forces are eligible to join The American Legion at this time, until the date of the DEFENSE end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States. Cash grants for military U.S. Merchant Marines are eligible for membership but only if they served from families who have temporary Dec. 7, 1941, to Dec. 31, 1946 (WWII). financial needs Comfort items for hospitalized legion.org/join (800) 433-3318 military personnel Advocacy for fair military retirement benefits Family Support Network of Get involved volunteers to help military families Representation in Washington to Sons of The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary offer support proper DoD funding membership opportunities to the families of Legion-eligible veterans, and The American Legion Riders offers additional opportunities to members Assistance in cases before military of all three organizations. discharge review boards AMERICANISM National leadership in U.S. flag protection and respect Services to help legal immigrants become U.S. citizens alaforveterans.org legion.org/sons legion.org/riders Support for public expression of Support the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem Tax-deductible donations help support the many American Legion programs COMMUNITY serving veterans, youth, families and communities across the United States. Honor and remembrance of those legion.org/donate (800) 433-3318 who served and sacrificed Emergency relief in times of natural disaster Leadership at patriotic ceremonies and special events The American Legion Connections with local schools P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206 and home-school students (317) 630-1200 Numerous local programs and legion.org initiatives, tailored to each community’s needs legion.org/facebook twitter.com/AmericanLegion Stock # 40-009 (Revised 02/2020) Artwork # 45MAG0220