AMERICAN LEGION
The American Legion is a wartime veterans’ organization that was chartered by Congress in 1919. The American Legion has almost three million members in nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide. These posts are organized into 55 departments, one each for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines. The American Legion’s national headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana, with additional offices in Washington, D.C. Though volunteer members
do most of the work of the American Legion, the
national organization has a regular full-time
staff of about 300 employees.
Eligibility in the American Legion is based
on honorable service in the U.S. armed forces
during WORLD WAR I , WORLD WAR II ,the
KOREAN WAR, the VIETNAM WAR, and military
operations in Lebanon (1982–84), Grenada
(1982–84), Panama (1989–90) and the Persian
Gulf (1990 to the early 2000s). Because mem-
bership is based on the period of service, not the
place of service, an individual does not have to
be stationed in a combat zone to be eligible.
Members may participate in a low-cost life
insurance program and may receive discounts
on moving expenses, car rentals, hotel and motel
rentals, eyewear, and prescription drugs. Ameri-
can Legion service officers provide free advice
and guidance to veterans who need to deal with
the DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA)
about benefits and other issues.
The American Legion sponsors many com-
munity activities and programs. Students show-
ing the highest qualities of citizenship are
recognized with an American Legion School
Medal Award. In 1996 more than 33,000 stu-
dents in elementary, junior high, and senior
high schools were recognized for their commit-
ment to honor, courage, scholarship, leadership,
and service. The organization also awards ten
national college scholarships each year. At the
state level, 49 departments host Boys State pro-
grams each summer for outstanding high school
juniors. Local posts sponsor nearly 28,000
young men each year to attend the week-long
government education program. Two outstand-
ing leaders from each of these Boys State pro-
grams are selected to attend the American
Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. The
American Legion Auxiliary conducts parallel
programs for young women through Girls State
and Girls Nation.
Many local posts sponsor Junior Shooting
Clubs, which provide training in gun safety and
marksmanship for students ages 14 though 20.
However, the American Legion is probably best
known for its sponsorship of youth BASEBALL
programs. In 1996 legion posts spent more than
$16 million to sponsor 4,800 baseball teams rep-
resenting more than 89,000 players. Champions
from the state level meet on the national level in
the American Legion World Series tournament.
The American Legion has always been a
strong advocate for U.S. veterans, appearing
before congressional committees to submit infor-
mation and viewpoints on pending legislation.
The Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commis-
sion (VAR) is a cornerstone of the American
Legion, overseeing federally mandated programs
provided by the VA for veterans and their
dependents. VAR services include assistance with
medical care, claims and appeals, insurance pro-
grams, burial benefits, and veterans’ employ-
ment. Staff members also communicate with
administrators of state veterans’ affairs programs.
American Legion volunteers give more than
one million hours of service to disabled veterans
annually. Field representatives from the Ameri-
can Legion’s Washington office systematically
visit VA medical centers, nursing homecare units,
and outpatient clinics to evaluate their programs
and facilities. The field representatives report
resource needs and areas for improvement to the
VA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
For a number of years the Legion and other
members of the Citizens Flag Alliance have con-
tinued to lobby Congress for a Constitutional
amendment that would impose penalties for
desecration of the U.S. flag. The Legion has also
been active in LOBBYING for mandatory recita-
tion of the Pledge of Allegiance in public
schools. After the SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS in
2001, the Legion established the American
Legion September 11 Memorial Scholarship to
help defray college costs for children of deceased military personnel.
FURTHER READINGS
American Legion. Available online at
(accessed May 30, 2003).
Moley, Raymond. 1975. The American Legion Story. Westport,
Conn.: Greenwood.
Rumer, Thomas. 1990. The American Legion: An Official History,
1919–1989. New York: Evans.
