Description

The American Legion is a U.S. war veterans' organization headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization was founded March 15, 1919, in Paris, France, by members of the American Expeditionary Forces, out of concern for the welfare of soldiers and the communities they returned to in the United States after World War I. The non-partisan organization is the nation’s largest veterans group, with nearly two million members in more than 12,000 posts throughout the United States.

The Legion focuses its efforts in four areas: Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, Children and Youth, National Security, and Americanism. These areas are known as “the Four Pillars” of American Legion service. Throughout its years of service to the nation, it has been a catalyst for social change and it has recorded myriad accomplishments. The Legion’s advocacy on behalf of veterans has been instrumental in the passage of numerous legislation including the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the GI Bill, and multiple legislation to advance government recognition and promote effective treatment of service-connected conditions.