Page 49 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

HISTORY AND IMPACT OF THE

American Legion

Contributed by Don Sherman and Edited by Jelaine Workman

In September substantially improved education
1966, the Legion benefits.
voiced great
concern over In July 2019, President Trump signed
the fate of the Let Everyone Get Involved in
he American Legion was prisoners-of- Opportunities for National Service
chartered by Congress in war in Vietnam. – the LEGION Act – which extends
T1919. Focusing on service Today, the recognized wartime service to cover
to veterans, servicemembers Legion urges previously unrecognized periods
and communities, the Legion evolved a full accounting of all POWs of U.S. military conflict. More than
from a group of war-weary veterans and troops missing in action and 1,600 Americans were killed or
of World War I into one of the most has formed an elite group from wounded in armed hostilities during
influential, nonprofit groups in the among the nation’s major veterans’ periods not previously recognized
United States. Membership swiftly organizations to continue pressing as wartime. The act allows veterans,
grew, and local posts spread across for further resolution of the issue. who served outside of a previously
the country. Today, membership designated war era, to join the
stands at nearly two million on more The Legion presented, in April 1982, American Legion.
than 13,000 posts worldwide. a $1 million check to the Vietnam
Memorial Fund for construction of For more than 100 years, the
Over the years, the Legion has the Wall in Washington, becoming American Legion has lobbied for
influenced considerable social change the largest single contributor to the adequate funding to cover medical
in America, won hundreds of benefits project. In July of that same year, the care, disability, education, and other
for veterans, and produced many Legion announced its sponsorship benefits for veterans. They have
important programs for children of an independent study on the pushed for better mental health care
and youth. In the 1920s, their efforts effects of exposure to Agent Orange for returning veterans. They have
resulted in the creation of the U.S. on Vietnam War veterans. Congress lobbied to protect the U.S. flag from
Veterans Bureau, forerunner of the received the results of the “American physical desecration and encouraged
Veterans Administration. Legion – Columbia University Study Congress to pinpoint the impact that
of Vietnam-Era Veterans” in 1989. Agent Orange had on our Vietnam
In December 1943, the Past National veterans. Their efforts on Capitol
Commander, Harry W. Colmery, Following the terrorist attack on Hill have significantly impacted
wrote (in longhand on Mayflower September 11, 2001, the Legion the Disabled Veterans Tax and the
Hotel stationery in Washington) the created a scholarship fund for Military Family Tax Relief Act.
first draft of what later become the children of military members
“GI Bill of Rights”, considered the killed in active duty on or after The American Legion has
Legion’s single greatest legislative the attack. Beginning on the one- endeavored to fulfill its mission
achievement. It was signed into year anniversary of the attack, the of enhancing the well-being of
law in June 1944 by President American Legion took the lead on “A America's veterans, their families,
Franklin D. Roosevelt. This ushered Day to Remember” events. our military, and our communities by
in monumental changes for U.S. their devotion to mutual helpfulness.
veterans and their families. The GI President George W. Bush signed All Americans owe a debt of
Bill provided better jobs, making into law the Post-9/11 Veterans gratitude, not only to our active-duty
it easier for veterans to purchase Education Assistance Act in military and our veterans but also
houses and raise families. For every June 2009, a next-generation GI to organizations like the American
dollar spent on educating veterans, Bill strongly supported by the Legion who exist solely to advocate
the U.S. economy eventually gets $7 Legion. The Bill renews the federal on their behalf.
back. government’s commitment to
veterans by providing them with

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