American Legion hits century mark

    Nearly 100 years ago, Congress chartered the American Legion as a patriotic veterans organization. Today it’s said to be one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States.
    On March 15-17, 1919, the first American Legion caucus was held in Paris. At a May 8-10 St. Louis caucus, the organization was officially named the American Legion. The emblem was adopted June 9, and on Sept. 16, Congress officially chartered the American Legion.
    At the Legion’s first convention in Minneapolis, a constitution and preamble were adopted, headquarters were established in Indianapolis, and a resolution was passed in support of Boy Scouts of America. Since then, the American Legion has, in addition to supporting veterans, played a major role in scouting nationwide.
    From the start, the Legion aimed to serve veterans, servicemembers and communities. It has been central to much change, helping win many benefits for veterans. Perhaps most notable was its role in designing the GI Bill. In addition to supporting Boy Scouts, the Legion has other youth programs, including baseball, Boys State and scholarships.
    Across the 13,000 posts with over 2 million members worldwide, different communities are served in unique and varied ways, but patriotism remains at the center of the organization.
    As President Calvin Coolidge said to Legionnaires at the 1925 convention, “No one can ever question your title as patriots. No one can ever doubt the place of affection and honor which you hold forevermore in the heart of the Nation. Your right to be here results from what you dared and what you did and the sacrifices which you made for our common country. It is all a glorious story of American enterprise and American valor.”

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