The American Legion was chartered by Congress
in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time
veterans organization. A community-service
organization which now numbers nearly 3 million
members -- men and women -- 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, DC. In addition to
thousands of volunteers serving in leadership
and program implementation capacities in local
communities to the Legion's standing national
commissions and committees, the national
organization has a regular full-time staff of
about 300 employees.
Preamble to the Constitution of The American
Legion
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES
TOGETHER 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 one hundred
percent Americanism; to preserve the memories
and incidents of our associations in the Great
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 comradeship by our
devotion to mutual helpfulness.
Over the years, The American Legion has
supported many causes directed at disadvantaged
children, including theSpecial Olympics. In 1979
Eunice Kennedy Shriver presented a Special
Olympics banner to The American Legion.
Significant Dates in American Legion History
1919 to 1931
March 15-17, 1919
The American Legion is founded in Paris at
the first caucus by members of the American
Expeditionary Force.
May 9, 1919
Caucus meeting in St. Louis adopts "The
American Legion" as the organization's
official name. The Legion's draft
constitution is approved, and so is its
preamble, which begins: "For God and
Country, we associate ourselves together. .
." The preamble, with its heartfelt
dedication to freedom and democracy, is
still recited today at official gatherings
of The American Legion.
June 9, 1919
The National Executive Committee of The
American Legion adopts the Legion Emblem.
Sept. 16, 1919
The U.S. Congress charters The American
Legion.
Nov. 10-12, 1919
The American Legion convenes its first
annual convention in Minneapolis.
Nov. 10-12, 1919
The American Legion's Constitution and
Preamble are adopted at the convention in
Minneapolis.
Nov. 10-12, 1919
The American Legion passes resolution
supporting the Boy Scouts of America. Today,
the Legion is the chartering agency for more
than 1,700 Scouting units that involve
64,000 youths.
Nov. 11, 1919
Delegates to The American Legion's first
annual convention in Minneapolis vote
361-323 to locate the Legion's National
Headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind., rather
than Washington, D.C.
Aug. 9, 1921
The U.S. Veterans Bureau, forerunner of the
Veterans Administration, is created as a
result of efforts by The American Legion.
Today, the Legion continues to lobby for
adequate funding of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
June 15, 1923
The first "Flag Code" is drafted during a
conference called by The American Legion in
Washington, D.C. The code eventually was
adopted by Congress in 1942. Today, the
Legion is at the forefront of efforts to
gain a constitutional amendment to protect
the American flag from physical desecration.
July 17, 1925
American Legion Baseball program is created.
Today, more than 60 percent of professional
baseball players are graduates of The
American Legion Baseball program. About
89,000 high-school-age youths play on
Legion-sponsored teams each year.
1931
Membership in The American Legion increases
to more than one million veterans.
1935 to 1954
June 23, 1935
The first American Legion Boys State is
convened in Springfield, Ill., to help
youths gain an understanding of the
structure and operation of American
government. The first Boys Nation was
organized in 1946.
June 1, 1938
The final round of The American Legion's
first annual National High School Oratorical
Contest is held in Norman, Okla. Today, more
than 25,000 high school students from around
the country compete annually in the contest
designed to develop a greater understanding
of the U.S. Constitution. Winners are
awarded thousands of dollars in college
scholarships.
Sept. 19-21, 1942
The Preamble to the Constitution of The
American Legion is changed for the first and
only time since its creation in 1919 -- the
word "War" is changed to "Wars."
Oct. 29, 1942
The American Legion's charter is amended to
allow veterans of World War II to join the
organization.
Dec. 15, 1943
Harry W. Colmery, past national commander of
The American Legion, writes in longhand on
hotel stationery the first draft of what
will later become the "GI Bill of Rights,"
the Legion's greatest single legislative
achievement. Today, the Legion is at the
forefront of efforts to improve benefits for
this nation's newest veterans, those who've
served during Desert Shield/Desert Storm and
are serving today in a variety of
peacekeeping roles.
June 22, 1944
The GI Bill is signed into law by President
Franklin Roosevelt.
May 29, 1946
A $50,000 grant from The American Legion and
the American Legion Auxiliary is presented
to a small, struggling organization, the
American Heart Association, to inaugurate a
nationwide program for the study, prevention
and treatment of rheumatic heart disease.
Aug. 28, 1946
Legion membership surpasses three million.
Sept. 1, 1949
The first World War II veteran is elected
national commander of The American Legion.
May 4, 1950
The American Legion votes to contribute
funds to the field of mental health with the
provision that the three major mental health
organizations then in existence be
amalgamated into one. They accepted this
provision, and the National Association for
Mental Health was born.
Dec. 28, 1950
Korean War veterans are approved for
membership in the Legion.
July 9, 1954
The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation
is formed. Since that time, the foundation
has awarded $4 million to youth-oriented
organizations and projects designed to help
America's children.
1966 to 1990
Sept. 1, 1966
Vietnam War veterans are approved for
membership in the Legion.
Sept. 1, 1966
The American Legion voices great concern
over the fate of POWs in Vietnam. Today, the
Legion continues to press for a full
accounting of POW/MIAs and has formed a
special group from among the nation's major
veterans organizations to take the lead on
this issue.
May 1, 1972
The American Legion implements the Halloween
safety program for children. Today, it
remains the only national program of its
kind.
Aug. 26, 1982
The American Legion presents a $1 million
check to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
toward the construction of "The Wall" in
Washington, D.C. The Legion, which had
solicited donations from its members,
eventually became the largest single
contributor to the project.
Aug. 25, 1983
The first Korean War veteran is elected
national commander of The American Legion.
July 21, 1983
The American Legion announces its
sponsorship of an independent study on the
effects of exposure to Agent Orange on
Vietnam veterans. The results of "The
American Legion-Columbia University Study of
Vietnam-era Veterans" were presented to
Congress in 1989.
Sept. 8, 1988
The first national commander of The American
Legion to have been a Vietnam War veteran is
elected.
Jan. 1, 1989
The new Department of Veterans Affairs,
elevated to cabinet- level status, begins
operations. The American Legion had fought
hard for the Veterans Administration to
become a cabinet-level department, arguing
that veterans -- as an important segment of
society -- deserved representation in the
highest councils of government.
Oct. 16, 1989
The longstanding objectives of The American
Legion to improve adjudication procedures
for veterans' claims are achieved as the
U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals begins
operations. Most of the provisions contained
in the law creating the court originally
were included in the Veterans Reassurance
Act, which was written by the Legion and
introduced in Congress in 1988.
Aug. 2, 1990
The American Legion files suit against the
federal government for failure to conduct a
study, mandated by Congress, of the effects
of Agent Orange on the health of Vietnam
veterans.
Oct. 11, 1990
The "Family Support Network" is formed by
The American Legion to assist the families
of military personnel deployed during
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the
Middle East. The Network stepped in to help
in a myriad of ways, from offering financial
assistance to mowing lawns to baby- sitting,
or simply providing a sympathetic ear.
Today, the Legion's Family Support Network
continues in existence to assist America's
newest veterans, particularly with
employment, as they return to civilian life.
Oct. 30, 1990
Veterans of Lebanon, Grenada and Panama
hostilities are approved for membership in
the Legion.
1991 to 1995
June 15, 1991
The American Legion's first annual Junior
Shooting Sports National Air Rifle
Championships are conducted at the Olympic
Training Center at Colorado Springs, Colo.
Each year, more than 600 high school
students enter the contest, which is
designed to teach gun safety and
marksmanship.
Dec. 3, 1991
Veterans of Desert Shield/Desert Storm are
approved for membership in The American
Legion. Today, the Legion continues to press
for improved educational and medical
benefits for Gulf War veterans.
April 5, 1993
The first class of recently discharged
veterans begins training in Sterling, Va.,
for eventual placement in well-paying jobs
in the construction industry. The landmark
training and job-placement program is a
joint effort by The American Legion and the
Laborers' International Union of North
America to assist veterans returning to an
uncertain job market.
Aug. 24, 1994
The American Legion announces creation of
the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition of
organizations and individual citizens, to
work for a constitutional amendment to
protect the American flag from physical
desecration.
Sept. 24, 1994
The American Legion announces partnership
with the Air and Space Museum to develop an
exhibit for the bomber Enola Gay, which
dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Previous museum plans had drawn intense
criticism from veterans, scholars and the
public.
Jan. 30, 1995
The American Legion announces Legion's
acceptance of a scaled-down exhibit "without
political commentary" for the Enola Gay,
ending the greatest controversy in the
Smithsonian Institute's 149-year history.
March 21, 1995
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Howell
Heflin (D-AL) introduce Senate Joint
Resolution 31, calling for an amendment to
the US Constitution to protect the American
flag from physical desecration;
Representatives Gerald Soloman (R-NY) and G.
V. "Sonny" Montgomery (D-MS) introduce a
similar bill, House Joint Resolution 79, in
their chamber.
June 28, 1995
HJR 79 clears House 312-120; 290 votes were
needed for the two-thirds majority required
for passage of a constitutional amendment.
July 20, 1995
SJR 31 passes Senate Judiciary Committee in
a 12-6 vote.
Oct. 1, 1995
The American Legion forms its Persian Gulf
Task Force to enhance TAL's service to
America's newest generation of wartime
veterans, thousands of whom suffer from
illnesses linked to their service in the
region.
Dec. 12, 1995
Senate rejects SJR 31 by a vote of 63-36,
three votes short of required two-thirds;
The American Legion pledges to continue the
fight for the amendment.
1996 to 2001
Feb. 13, 1996
Reps. Gerald Solomon (R-NY) and William
Lipinski (D-IL) introduce HJR 54, a
flag-protection constitutional amendment.
Sept. 16, 1996
The American Legion awards a $20,000
postsecondary scholarship to each of the 10
inaugural Samsung American Legion high
school scholars.
June 11, 1997
The American Legion National Emergency Fund
surpasses the $1 million mark in cash grants
given in 1997 to flood victims who belonged
to The American Legion, the American Legion
Auxiliary and the Sons of The American
Legion. Most of the grant recipients reside
in the Ohio River flood plains of Ohio,
Kentucky and Indiana as well as in Red River
flooded areas of Minnesota and North Dakota.
June 12, 1997
US House passes HJR 54, a flag-protection
constitutional amendment, by a vote of
310-114.
Sept. 3, 1997
The American Legion presents its first ever
National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
award to Cpl. William T. Rhodes of
Huntington, Pa., during its 79th National
Convention in Orlando, Fla.
Sept. 23, 1997
National Commander Anthony G. Jordan
testifies before members of the US House and
US Senate Veterans Affairs Committees. US
Rep. Robert Stump (R-AZ) promises
congressional hearings would be held on the
GI Bill of Health, TAL's plan to improve the
Department of Veterans Affairs health care
system.
Feb. 4, 1998
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Max Cleland
(D-GA) introduce S.J. Res. 40. The amendment
has 61 co-sponsors to date.
Oct. 7, 1998
Sen. Majority Leader Trent Lott brings SJR
40 to the floor of the U.S. Senate asking
for unanimous consent to proceed to debate
and vote. Sens. Robert Kerrey (D-NE) and
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) objected to
consideration of the resolution, citing lack
of time to sufficiently debate the
amendment. With that the measure was lost in
the 105th Congress.
Feb. 24, 1999
Reps. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) and
John Murtha (D-PA) introduce H.J. Res. 33, a
constitutional amendment which would return
to the American people the right to protect
their flag. Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY), who
replaced retired Congressman Gerald Solomon,
is also leading the co- sponsor drive by
shoring up support among newly elected
members of Congress.
Mar. 17, 1999
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Max Cleland
(D-GA)introduce S.J. Res. 14. The amendment
has 54 cosponsors. In all sixty-four
Senators have pledged their support of the
amendment.
June 24, 1999
The U.S. House of Representatives, by an
overwhelming majority, passes H.J. Res. 33
by a 305-124 margin, 15 votes more than was
needed for the two-thirds majority required
for passage of a constitutional amendment.
March 29, 2000
Senate Joint Resolution 14, the Flag
Protection Constitutional Amendment, falling
four short of the necessary 67 votes, is
lost 63-37 in the United States Senate. Once
again a clear, but insufficient, majority
supported it. Once again, a small number of
US Senators made it clear they place no
trust in the American people and have a mere
spoken regard for the importance the people
place on the Flag of the United States.
For the remainder of the year, the Citizens
Flag Alliance focuses in two broad areas:
recognizing supporters in the 106th Congress
and determining the position of every
candidate seeking a seat in the 107th. Three
hundred sixty-eight members of Congress (305
Representatives and 63 Senators) receive a
formal, personal thank-you and a small
memento from the CFA groups in their state.
More than 1,000 candidates for federal
office are queried on their support for a
flag protection amendment. When election
returns are finalized, more than 300
Representatives and 60 Senators are seated
and on the record as flag amendment
supporters.
March 2001
The CFA produces another in a continuing
line of video pieces that depict the
importance of the flag and call to action,
during the 107th Congress, the 141
Organizations that make up the Citizens Flag
Alliance.
March 13, 2001
A press conference is called in Washington,
DC, to announce the introduction of the flag
protection amendment in both chambers of the
107th Congress. Senators Max Cleland (D-GA)
and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) become the Chief
Cosponsors in the US Senate, while
Representatives Randy "Duke" Cunningham
(R-CA) and John Murtha (D-PA) champion the
cause in the US House of Representatives.
The House resolution, HJR 36, enjoys
official co-sponsorship from more than 100
members. In the Senate, SJR 7 counts 40
official cosponsors. Efforts toward a
cosponsor drive in both chambers continue.
2002 to Present
January 10, 2002
Vermont lawmakers pass a resolution calling
on for the protection of the U.S. Flag from
desecration. It becomes the 50th state to
pass such a resolution.
November 2002
The American Legion launches national "I Am
Not A Number" campaign to identify and
document the delays veterans face in
obtaining earned medical care benefits from
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
April 2003
The American Legion turns up the effort to
eliminate the Disabled Veterans Tax, known
as "concurrent receipt " in political
circles. As the last quarter of the year
begins lawmakers continue to search for a
solution as they feel the pressure from
their constituents.
August 2005
Delegates at the 87th National Convention
unanimously voice their support for the War
on Terrorism by passing Resolution 169.
