Of the estimated 140,000 military veterans currently living in Maine, only around 17,500 of them are proud members of the American Legion. Many veterans who are not members ask why they should join the legion. Here are a few things about the American Legion:
Since its 1919 founding, The American Legion has been a staunch advocate for veterans, military members, their families and the communities in which they reside. It ushered in the modern VA, drafted and drove passage of the GI Bill and updates, and brought into existence dozens of health-care benefits for veterans.
Every day, The American Legion works on behalf of U.S. service members, legionnaires or not. It is recognized as a leader in transition assistance from military to civilian life, providing resources for careers, education and more.
American Legion Post 24, here in Rumford welcomes all active duty and honorably discharged armed forces members. The American Legion is the nation’s largest and most influential organization of U.S. veterans. Today, it counts 1.6 million members who support their communities in more than 12,000 posts worldwide.
The American Legion offers membership to any former members of the armed forces. The VFW as its name implies only accepts members who have been deployed in support of armed conflict.
Any Legionnaire in good standing may visit the lounge on the merits of the American Legion membership and by showing a membership card. Such Legionnaires need not be a guest of a Post member. However, it is proper etiquette that said Legionnaires sign the guest book.
Please contact American Legion Post 24, Rumford Maine at (207) 369-9053 or stop at the Post Monday through Saturday from 2 to 8 pm for more information or an application.
Veteran, why not join the legion?
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Legion members log millions of community service hours as VA volunteers, and more than $1.5 million is raised annually to assist VA hospitals.
Beginning in the 1920s, The American Legion played a key role in creating the U.S. Flag Code. Today, Legionnaires teach schoolchildren, Scouts and other youth groups the history of the American flag as well as how to properly fold and care for it.
Your American Legion raises funds to award scholarships, provide support for wounded servicemembers and distribute emergency aid to disaster victims.
The American Legion advocates on Capitol Hill for a well funded, appropriately staffed VA that can handle benefits claims efficiently, quickly and accurately. In fact, The American Legion helped usher in much-needed change to the review of VA benefits claims disputes. The American Legion conducts System Worth Saving visits to VA facilities across the United States. These visits include a thorough assessment of the facility and discussions with patients and staff. This information is then compiled and published.
The American Legion works one-on-one with veterans to ensure they receive proper benefits. Accredited American Legion service officers are trained to provide free expert assistance to veterans and their families. Service officers spend the majority of their time on claims for VA disability benefits, but these compassionate professionals also provide information, referrals and resources on education, employment and business, death benefits and more.
A continuous Legion initiative, from National Commander Daniel Seehafer down to every individual member is the “Be The One” campaign.
Its notable that 2021 was the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to greater financial strain, housing instability, anxiety and depression levels, and barriers to health care – all of which are associated with increased risk of suicide for veterans. Additionally, VA noted, there was also an increase in firearm availability in 2021, which is proven to raise both the risk of suicide and the risk of dying during a suicide attempt.
In 2021, The American Legion launched its Be the One mission to reduce the rate of veteran suicide by creating more awareness, lessening the stigma of mental health treatment and encouraging everyone to act when the life of a veteran may be at risk.
The number of veteran suicides in 2021 are down from 2018 when there were 6,718.
The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dial 988 then Press 1, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, known as the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, is an act of Congress that spends $797 billion to significantly improve health care access and funding for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service.
This includes those in the Iraq War exposed to burn pits and in the Vietnam War who were exposed to agent orange.
40 percent of the 140,000 thousand veterans living in Maine have potentially been exposed to toxins during service.
The American Legion conducts, promotes and supports hundreds of veteran job fairs and career events nationwide each year. Thousands of veterans land jobs because of these efforts. Meanwhile, The American Legion helps place hundreds of other veterans in job-training programs every year. Working veteran-to-veteran with The American Legion Small Business Task Force, along with the Small Business Administration, Department of Labor, VA and corporate associates, The American Legion helps veterans understand the federal contracting process and offers personal guidance for career-seeking veterans
The American Legion was instrumental in the creation of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also known as the “Forever GI Bill.” providing veterans with education benefits that better meet today’s needs. The law builds on previous GI Bill revisions and adds improvements to the benefit, making it more helpful to National Guardsmen, reservists and those pursuing online education.
VA and The American Legion are working side-by-side to improve the speed and delivery of benefits claims. Through its System Worth Saving and Regional Office Action Review initiatives, The American Legion pinpoints problems, identifies best practices and works together with staff in VA medical centers.
For veterans and families disputing benefits decisions by VA, The American Legion has staff representatives in Washington, D.C., who can help with the appeals process or strengthen a case, free of charge to veterans.
The American Legion supports women veterans, provides resources to those in transition and works to address their unique needs such as gender-specific health care and military sexual trauma.
The American Legion offers free assistance to those applying to their service branches for corrections to military records and discharge statuses. American Legion experts help veterans with claims for Combat Related Special Compensation and the procurement of accurate records.
American Legion posts throughout the country build shelters or provide financial and volunteer support for homeless veterans. At the national level, The American Legion works with VA to raise awareness and allocate funds to help alleviate the problem.
Legionnaires donate more than 1 million hours of service a year at veterans health-care facilities, working through the VA Volunteer Services program. These volunteer hours save the federal government millions of dollars each year. legion.org/volunteers
The American Legion fulfills a sacred duty by honoring the memories of U.S. veterans after their deaths. American Legion honor guards salute their fallen comrades at funeral services throughout the country. American Legion Riders provide motorcycle escorts at services for veterans. The American Legion also works closely with the National Cemetery Administration, Arlington National Cemetery and American Battle Monuments Commission to honor the fallen.
The American Legion’s positions on national defense, homeland security, border control and military support are all part of the long-held American Legion value that the key to peace and world stability is a strong, well resourced defense. In order to protect America, troops and their families must have support. The American Legion plays a vital role in supporting those who protect our freedoms. American Legion posts adopt military units, deliver care packages, provide support for families of deployed servicemembers and welcome the troops home. The pandemic has had a severe impact on health-care facilities, especially long-term care facilities like veterans homes. Taiwan donated 250,000 surgical masks to The American Legion. In turn, The American Legion distributed a portion to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Mass., which was hard hit by the coronavirus. American Legion posts in Massachusetts had already risen to the occasion by providing care packages to the home. The mask donation and care packages are examples of The American Legion’s dedication to keeping America’s veterans and their communities safe. Another area where The American Legion is heavily involved is blood-donation efforts. The American Legion Blood Donor Program has existed officially since 1942. Each year, Legionnaires have donated to support the American Red Cross. “Our donation is more than just the masks. It’s about a shared commitment between Taiwan and the United States, as well as a commitment to those who serve in the armed forces of both countries.” - Bi-khim Hsiao, Representative of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the United States
This program provides wounded service members with rehabilitation equipment for physical therapy and entertainment in the form of special clothing, electronics, sports equipment, music and more. One hundred percent of donations to OCW go toward gifts for injured servicemembers.
The American Legion’s support of the U.S. military – from adequate funding for weapons systems to reasonable child care services for deployed troops – is respected in the Pentagon, at the White House and on Capitol Hill.
The U.S. military’s health-care system and medical insurance program frequently face challenges in Washington. The American Legion persistently testifies on the need to keep TRICARE and TRICARE For Life viable and affordable benefits of military service.
Dozens of American Legion posts and more than 3,400 Ham Radio Club volunteers set the tone for preparing for natural disasters. In many communities, American Legion posts serve as civil-defense shelters and havens of relief in the event of catastrophe or attack on U.S. soil. Ham radio operators can relay messages when other communication systems are down.
The American Legion opposes illegal immigration and amnesty for those who came to the United States illegally. The American Legion advocates for strict border and port security as a defense against invasion or attack by foreign enemies, illegal drug trafficking and adverse economic impact. The American Legion, however, strongly supports legal naturalization.
The National Emergency Fund has provided more than $9 million in immediate financial assistance to American Legion Family members and posts affected by natural disasters. The financial grants have helped American Legion members and Sons of The American Legion members rebuild their lives.
The American Legion’s Blue Star Banner was resurrected after 9/11 to acknowledge U.S. families with loved ones serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime. American Legion Blue Star Salutes and other post sponsored events to distribute the banners are effective expressions of homefront support for military families.
The American Legion conducts state competitions throughout the country for posts that donate blood or host blood drives.
The American Legion maintains a strong working relationship with the State Department to promote peace, human rights and trade on a global scale. The American Legion urges the president and Congress to continue pursuing the “smart power” strategy of using military and economic strength in tandem with foreign aid and human-rights negotiations to fulfill U.S. foreign policy.
The American Legion maintains unwavering support for the full accounting of all U.S. military personnel taken as prisoners of war, missing or killed in action on foreign soil. Official meetings of The American Legion start with a prayer to honor our nation’s POWs. POW/ MIA flags, patches and pins are displayed at American Legion events to demonstrate the organization’s eternal vigilance.
For those looking to make differences in their local communities, The American Legion is a great place to start. From American Legion Baseball to Boys State/Boys Nation to the Oratorical Contest, there are plenty of opportunities to make your mark. Take, for example, the experience of Pat Unger, commander of Tyler Cates American Legion Post 281 in Mount Juliet, Tenn. Unger’s vision of creating an American Legion Baseball team came true. The post provides support by supplying uniforms, attending games, serving refreshments and meeting players’ transportation needs. “The enthusiasm and camaraderie among the Legion members and players has been one of the most rewarding experiences for everyone,” Unger says. “The experience of going to a baseball game and knowing that The American Legion is a driving force behind the teams is both gratifying and satisfying. American Legion Baseball is truly a rewarding and fun endeavor for any American Legion post to be involved with.” American Legion posts and volunteers like Unger coordinate each season, culminating with the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C., watched by millions on ESPNU and ESPN3. More than 54,000 young athletes compete for over 3,400 American Legion Baseball teams each year. Some of these baseball players go on to play professionally, including more than 82 who have been enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. legion.org/baseball “Relationships are what drive everything – especially in the game of baseball – and have the opportunity to form that kind of unity like we did with American Legion Baseball. It’s just as important as learning to field a ground ball.” – Major League Baseball All-Star Brian Dozier, who played American Legion Baseball for Post 49 in Tupelo, Miss. 10 The American Legion Why You Should Belong The American Legion Why You Should Belong 11 Why You Should Belong
At the national, state and local levels, The American Legion provides access to dozens of scholarships and education programs. legion.org/scholarships
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship provides college scholarships for children of military personnel who were killed on active duty since 9/11, or have a combined VA disability rating of 50 percent or greater. The needs-based scholarship is designed to fulfill a gap after all federal and state grants and scholarships have been used by eligible applicants.
The American Legion is the nation’s leading supporter of a constitutional amendment to protect the U.S. flag from desecration. Since a 5-4 Supreme Court decision in 1989 defined flag burning as free speech, The American Legion has advocated alongside members of Congress, the Citizens Flag Alliance and the majority of Americans to return to the states the right to enact flag-protection laws. The American Legion is also the nation’s foremost authority on the U.S. Flag Code and proper dignified disposal of unserviceable U.S. flags.
American Legion posts serve as polling places, political debate venues and forums during campaigns. The American Legion is a nonpartisan organization but takes an active role in the political process and encourages Americans to register and vote in all elections.
Dirigo State. Young men throughout the country learn firsthand how government works during American Legion Boys State and American Legion Boys Nation. From each Boys State program, two delegates are selected to attend Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., where they form a mock federal Senate and meet with top officials in the nation’s capital. The American Legion Auxiliary conducts a separate program for young women.
American Legion youth air-rifle teams compete throughout the country for a possible berth in the National Junior Shooting Sports championships at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program gives thousands of young people the opportunity to hone their speaking skills and learn about the U.S. Constitution. Competitions at the local and state levels lead up to the National American Legion High School Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis, where top finishers are awarded more than $203,500 in scholarships.
American Legion departments conduct weeklong American Legion Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Programs for rising high school seniors that educate them about law enforcement and instills respect for law officials.
American Legion posts sponsor more than 2,300 Scouting units and provide thousands of dollars in scholarships. The American Legion offers a national scholarship for Eagle Scout of the Year, and the Square Knot Award for Legionnaires who assist Scouting programs in their communities.
The American Legion’s Children & Youth pillar is guided by three main objectives: strengthen the family unit, support organizations that help children in need, and provide communities with well-rounded programs to provide hope and opportunity for young people facing difficult challenges.
The American Legion Family consists of The American Legion, Sons of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and American Legion Riders. Members of the Riders must also be members of the Legion, Auxiliary or Sons.
Sons of The American Legion: Founded in 1932, the Sons honor the service and sacrifice of veterans. There are more than 372,000 members in the United States. Members include males whose parents or grandparents served in the U.S. military and were eligible for American Legion membership.
American Legion Auxiliary: The Auxiliary’s membership criteria was changed in 2019 from “wives” to “spouses,” allowing males to join the organization. With 9,000 units in the United States, members are dedicated to serving, helping and meeting the needs of veterans, their families and their communities.
American Legion Riders: There are more than 2,500 American Legion Riders chapters across the nation. Riders support their communities with local fundraising events as well as being the primary force behind the annual Legacy Scholarship Fund. Riders raise awareness and collect donations during the annual American Legion Legacy Ride, which has helped raise more than $12 million for the scholarship fund. Additionally, Riders perform a number of services for American Legion-supported causes and provide support at military funerals.
An online network just for Legionnaires is available through mylegion.org. The network is built for veterans who want to communicate better with each other and with their posts. It offers a variety of services, including membership administration tools.
Membership in The American Legion gives Legionnaires access to discounts on a variety of products and services. Discounts are available through participating providers in auto rental, home services, financial and insurance, medical, moving and relocation, travel and other industries.
Members stay up to date on congressional action related to American Legion resolutions and programs. Additionally, they can receive legislative alerts, easily contact their elected officials to advocate for veteran friendly legislation, and much more.
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