The County Line
The American Legion is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and since there are a lot of things about the Legion that I never knew, I thought a little research might be in order.
The Legion was not founded in the U.S. It was founded in Paris in March of 1919 by Americans including soldiers serving in France four months after the end of World War I.
But, for most of the past century the Legion’s national headquarters has been in Indianapolis, and it is here that the anniversary will be observed with the organization’s national convention in August.
The Legion has about two million members in 12,000 posts throughout the U.S. and even overseas in France, the Philippines and Puerto Rico. I learned that the popular GI Bill was essentially prepared by Legion members and the Legion was instrumental in getting the Department of Veterans Affairs established.
There are six Legion posts located here in Hamilton County at Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield, Sheridan, Cicero and Fishers.
Of course, Legion membership now includes veterans of all American wars as well as those who served in the military during peace time. But, with the passing of so many World War II veterans, membership has decreased.
The Legion tries with some success to enroll veterans with recent military service, but like most organizations today it is difficult to secure new members. There are also affiliated groups including the Legion Auxiliary for women and Sons of the American Legion for those whose fathers served.
Not getting as much publicity as they should are various projects and programs sponsored by the Legion. Boys’ State and Girls’ State are two major annual programs conducted for high school students in each state followed by Boys’ and Girls’ Nation held in Washington, D.C.
Other projects include American Legion Baseball with winning teams from each state playing for the Legion World Series championship, an annual oratorical contest, Operation Comfort, the National Emergency Fund, the Legion Riders, and a number of scholarships for high school seniors.
Legion members in cooperation with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, place flags on the graves of veterans in most local cemeteries and conduct Memorial Day ceremonies in several of those cemeteries.
As an observer, I have the opinion that the Legion needs better public relations to spread of word of their activities. For example, as someone who’s been in the news business for years, I find it rare that names of delegates to Boys and Girls State are supplied to the media, or that times and locations of Memorial Day excises are distributed.
With better public relations, the Legion could improve and expand its image, and possibly expand interest and membership in a worthy organization.