The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States.
• It is chartered by four guiding principles/Pillars:
• A strong national defense
• Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation
• Americanism
• Children and Youth Programs

What the American Legion does

Advocating on a national platform to reduce the rate of veteran suicide. The American Legion’s ‘Be the One’ initiative will:
• Assist those in need of mental health support, and create opportunities for those with mental health issues to speak freely.
• Deploy FDA-approved therapeutics for veterans to identify issues and find support resources.
• Provide peer-to-peer support and resources in local communities.

The American Legion also:

• Delivers free of charge, all U.S. flags for the graves of American military personnel laid to rest at overseas cemeteries.
• Provides cash assistance to needy military and veteran families with children at home.
• Purchases comfort items and recreational opportunities , from loose-fitting sweat suits for burn victims to amusement park tickets of hospitalized military recovering from wounds and illnesses.
• Fulfills needs and provides firsthand support for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury through a variety of therapeutic programs that are not dependent on prescription drugs.
• Awards college scholarships to the children of U.S. military personnel who have lost their lives while on active duty since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
• Distributes urgent cash assistance to veterans whose homes have been badly damaged or destroyed by natural disasters.
• Sponsors and supports hundreds of youth programs, including more than 3,000 scouting units, nearly 4,000 American Legion baseball teams, dozens of Junior Shooting Sports clubs, Junior ROTC and Junior Law Cadet programs.
• Supports and demands a full accounting and repatriation, when possible of all U.S. military personnel listed as Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA.)