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,
committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our
communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national
security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.
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 the kind of
support that makes a hospital feel a little bit 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 great 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 veteran’s community, backed by resolutions passed
by volunteer leadership.
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.
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.
