Suffolk County American Legion

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Our Story

ABOUT THE AMERICAN LEGION The American Legion (sometimes referred to as simply “The Legion”) was conceived in World War I France by a group of twenty officers serving with the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF - AEF Headquarters had asked these officers to suggest ideas for improving troop morale. One member, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (eldest son of the 26th President), proposed an organization of veterans. In February, 1919, members of the group formed a committee to select several hundred officers commanding great army respect to pull things together. The following month, some 1000 officers and enlisted men attended what has come to be known as the Paris Caucus. In the course of that gathering, they adopted a temporary constitution and "The American Legion" moniker. Congress chartered the American Legion as a patriotic, mutual-help war-time veterans that same year. The first charter recipient in the United States was the General John Joseph Pershing Post Number 1 in Washington, D.C. and it was issued May 19, 1919. Following establishment, the American Legion progressively evolved from a group of war-weary World War I veterans into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Our community-service organization counts some 2.4 million members, spread over 14,000 posts worldwide. American Legion Posts are organized into 55 departments, one for each of the 50 states and 5 more to cover the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines. Today, the Legion remains the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, firm in its commitments to mentor youth, sponsor wholesome community programs, advocate for patriotism and honor, promote strong national security and see to the needs, interests and well-being of fellow service members and veterans. Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation and help bond communities together. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs, educating young people to the importance of sportsmanship, citizenship and fitness. The Operation Comfort Warriors program lends comforting support to recovering wounded and their families. The Legion also donates millions of dollars at the local, state and national level each year to help veterans and loved ones cope with crises or pursue dreams of college scholarship. The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit 501(c)(19) organization. Its great political influence is perpetuated by grass-roots involvement in legislative processes extending from local districts to Capitol Hill. The Legion was instrumental in passage of the G.I. Bill of Rights, a piece of legislation that has come to symbolize the promise this nation and its government have made to service people, and we hold the charge of watching over that promise to ensure it is never broken. The Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives honest advocacy for veterans across the board. In the most democratic of processes, the Legion advances resolutions openly promulgated by its active volunteer membership and dear to the hearts of fraternal comrades. Eligibility for American Legion membership is limited to honorably discharged veterans and current personnel of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force who served at least one day of active duty during any of the following periods: World War I: 6 APR 1917 to 11 NOV 1918 World War II: 7 DEC 1941 to 31 DEC 1946 (except for the U.S. Merchant Marine THAT extends the cutoff date to 16 AUG 1945) Korean War: 25 June 1950 to 31 JAN 1955 Vietnam War: 28 FEB 1961 to 7 MAY 1975 1982 Lebanon War and Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada): 24 AUG 1982 to 31 1984 Operation Just Cause (Panama): 20 DEC 1989 to 31 JAN 1990 Gulf War/ War On Terror (Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom): 2 AUG 1990 to present day The American Legion abides by a preamble to its constitution that clearly defines its mission. We found our actions on four pillars of dedicated service plus an umbrella commitment to community service. THE LEGION PREAMBLE 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. THE FOUR PILLARS +1 1. A Strong national security 2. Taking care of Veterans 3. Mentoring Youth 4. Promoting patriotism and honor 5. Selfless community service