By KIRK L. MILLER

Recently on March 15, the American Legion celebrated its 106th birthday and is heralded as the oldest and largest veterans’ group in the USA. The organization was formed in 1919 by a group of veterans who had served in World War I and returned home to discover that many soldiers were experiencing despair upon leaving the military.

The founding members decided that a club designed to allow these men who had experienced the same mission, and shared the same levels of patriotism for their country would be ultimately beneficial. The Legion was formed and many of the first posts to charter were right here in New York. Even to this day the Department of New York is regarded as one of the largest and strongest groups within the American Legion. The Headquarters was chosen to be in Indianapolis Indiana, and is still the national center for the Legion.

Originally members were accepted from any branch of the service from WWI. The Legion was accepted as a national veteran’s organization by congress and remains under congressional authority today. The United States government for many years oversaw the membership criteria as future wars were fought and American soldiers and sailors were sent into battle.

At a certain point in 2019, the requirement of service time within specific conflict periods was suspended to allow any veteran who served at any time to join as a full voting member. The only stipulation to that rule remained that the veteran needed to have the distinction of an Under Honorable Conditions discharge or still be completing an enlistment with good conduct.

Since the Vietnam era, both men and women have been allowed to join as members as well as spouses, sons and daughters joining support groups like the Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion. These two additional groups operate independently from the American Legion but share in the common mission to provide needed support for any veteran. The needs of veterans are vast and the combination of the three groups helps meet some of those needs.

Many ask about the reasons for having the American Legion today and why it’s important for discharged service people to join. The answers are simpler than one would believe. The first is to unify the veterans with their peers in a casual environment, also to have a body that will vote to lobby for legislation affecting veterans. An example is the GI Bill which provided many resources and benefits to veterans leaving the service. This initiative was lobbied and won approval at the congressional level by support from the American Legion.

It’s worth noting here that the American Legion subscribes to no political party, and under its preamble states to uphold the constitution of The United States and fully supports Americanism.

Similar awards have been made recently with the passing of the PACT Act and the testimony at state and federal committees about the need for additional benefits for veterans and their dependents. One interesting fact is the American Legion supports any veteran, whether they are a member of the organization or not. This is done using Veteran Service Officers (VSO) who work hand in hand with the Veterans Administration (VA) to get servicemen and women what they should be getting, as well as deciphering the bureaucratic paperwork needed to file. The main uses of these VSOs are within the medical needs of qualifying veterans; however, they are also the go-to-people for funeral and burial benefits for any service member, and educational forms and benefits even though most places of higher learning have their own financial counselors. These officers perform a unique role in the veteran’s assistance circle.

There are many other ways the American Legion helps the community. By way of hosting a local post that provides services such as a place of refuge during times of natural disaster such as tornado or flood. The post may provide patriotic education to the local school teaching Flag Etiquette or providing scholarship funds to needy students. They host Boy Scout troops and arrange for contests such as the Oratorical competition where students compete in public speaking about a wide range of topics.

Additionally, the American Legion from the post level sends boys to Boys State, a learning experience where the youth run governments and services in a mock environment while gaining friendships from across their state. In similar fashion girls are sent to Girls State sponsored by a post auxiliary unit. The fun doesn’t stop there, the Legion sponsors baseball teams as well as other sports. The Legion strives to be a vital part of every community and performs ceremonies for veterans’ holidays, and marches in parades, they even supply funeral detail to honor those veterans who have died. The newest initiative is the Be The One campaign created to ebb veterans suicide.

A lengthy answer to a short question but discovering the full reason for having an American Legion in your community was worth the read. A great many citizens don’t realize the complexity of the American Legion post or its superior branches from the county through the national levels.

Perhaps you would like to join or to get additional information, feel free to contact your local post. They are more than happy to address your query. And if you need quality American Flags made in America and sized properly for your pole or staff reach out to your Legion. Proceeds from the sales help fund things for your local veterans. As always, God bless you and God bless our great United States of America.

Kirk L. Miller is past commander of the Chautauqua County American Legion, 8th district department of New York.