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About the American Legion

 

The History of The American Legion
https://youtu.be/sdzepcsv-tU

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization. It is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continuing devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

The American Legion is the nation’s largest and most influential organization for U.S. wartime veterans and their families. Today, it counts 2.2 million members who operate through more than 13,000 posts across the United States and beyond. Since its inception by Congress in 1919, The American Legion has delivered substantial improvements for veterans, families, and communities.

The Legion ushered in the modern V.A. The Legion drafted and drove home the passage of the GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Legion has brought into existence dozens of healthcare benefits for veterans and programs designed to provide civilian careers after discharge. The Legion works every day on behalf of U.S. servicemen and women. It is recognized as a leader in transition assistance from military to civilian life, providing resources for careers, education, child care, and more. The Legion is active every day.

Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation one community at a time. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs, educating young people about the importance of sportsmanship, citizenship, and fitness. The Operation Comfort Warriors program supports recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing them with “comfort items” and support that makes a hospital feel a little more like home. The Legion also raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state, and national levels to help veterans and their families during times of need and to provide college scholarship opportunities.

The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with significant political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state, and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation’s veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.

There seems to be a mistaken perception that the American Legion is for older retirees. In reality, the services offered can benefit any service member, young or old, who needs help in many areas or to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow veterans.

The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation, and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. Post 39 was chartered on August 1, 1920. We are the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization. We are committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continuing devotion to our fellow service members and veterans. The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with significant political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. We have nearly 3 million members, men, and women, with about 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide. Members include veterans and active duty members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, USMC, USAF, Coast Guard, and WWII Merchant Marines.

The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation, and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.

If you are not an eligible Veteran, you may still be able to join either The American Legion Auxillary or The Sons of The American Legion (we do not currently have an active local Sons of The American Legion, but the link to join the local Auxillary is below).

 

 

About The American Legion Auxiliary
Join Auxillary HERE

 

As the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization, the Auxiliary’s membership is around 800,000. With 9,000 units in the United States, members are fiercely dedicated to serving, helping, and meeting the needs of veterans, their families, and their communities. Non-Veteran Women can join the American Legion Auxiliary only if they are the widow of a Veteran that meets eligibility requirements or if they are the spouse of a member.

Members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of The American Legion comprise the Legion Family, which has a combined membership of nearly 4.2 million.

Founded in 1919, The American Legion Auxiliary has nearly 1 million members from all walks of life. The Auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and veterans, and raises millions of dollars to support its own programs, as well as other worthwhile charities familiar to Americans. It is all accomplished with volunteers.

While originally organized to assist The American Legion, the Auxiliary has achieved its own unique identity while working side-by-side with the veterans who belong to The American Legion. Like the Legion, the Auxiliary’s interests have broadened to encompass the entire community.

The American Legion Auxiliary is made up of male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Through its nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it solidly stands behind America and its ideals.

Mission Statement
In the spirit of service, not self, the Mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad.  For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace, and security.

Purposes
In fulfillment of our Mission, the American Legion Auxiliary adheres to the following purposes:

  • To support and advocate for veterans, active military, and their families
  • To keep the initiatives and programs of The American Legion
  • To foster patriotism and responsible citizenship
  • To award scholarships and promote quality education and literacy
  • To provide educational and leadership opportunities that uphold the ideals of freedom  and democracy and encourage good citizenship and patriotism in government
  • To increase our capacity to deliver our Mission by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities within our communities
  • To empower our membership to achieve personal fulfillment through Service, Not Self

 

Values
Our statement of values is predicated on the founding purposes:

  • Commitment to the four founding principles: Justice, Freedom, Democracy, Loyalty
  • Service to God, our country, its veterans, and their families
  • The tradition of patriotism and citizenship
  • Personal integrity and family values
  • Respect for the uniqueness of individual members
  • Truthful, open communication in dealing with the public and our members
  • Adherence to the adopted policies and rule

 

 

About The Sons of The American Legion
Tri-Lakes Post 9-11 does not currently have a Sons of The American Legion division.  You may still find one in the area by contacting the SAL National Headquarters below.  If you would like to be put on a list of people to contact when reinstated, email Terri@Tri-LakesPost9-11.org.

Founded in 1932, the Sons of The American Legion exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires.

There are more than 355,000 members in the United States. Members include males whose parents or grandparents served in the U.S. military and were eligible for American Legion membership.

All male descendants, adopted sons, and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of veterans who died in service during World War I, and December 7, 1941, to date, as set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of The American Legion, or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion.

There shall be no forms or classes of membership except an active membership.

SAL members include males of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the U.S. military and were eligible for American Legion membership. Members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of The American Legion comprise the Legion Family, which has a combined membership of nearly 3 million.

Although SAL has its own membership, the organization is not a separate entity. Instead, SAL is a program of The American Legion. Many Legionnaires hold dual membership in SAL.

 

History

The Sons of The American Legion was created in 1932 as an organization within The American Legion. The SAL is made up of boys and men of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the United States military and became eligible for membership in The American Legion. Together, members of The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of The American Legion make up what is known as the Legion Family. All three organizations place high importance on preserving our American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and perhaps most importantly, teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship.

The SAL has study programs recommended for younger members. One such program, called “The Ten Ideals,” teaches the elements of patriotism, health, knowledge, training, honor, faith, helpfulness, courtesy, reverence, and comradeship. If a member completes the Ten Ideals program, he is eligible to continue with another program called the “Five-Point Program of Service.” This program covers patriotism, citizenship, discipline, leadership, and legions.

 

Preamble

Proud possessors of a priceless heritage, we male descendants of veterans of all Wars associate ourselves together as “Sons of The American Legion” for the following purposes:

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a true spirit of Americanism; to preserve the memories of our former members and the association of our members and our forefathers in all wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State, and Nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy, to consecrate and sanctify our friendship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness; to adopt in letter and spirit all of the great principles for which The American Legion stands; and to assist in carrying on for God and Country.