| The American
Legion is... STILL
SERVING AMERICA!
"Still Serving America" is
the motto of The American Legion. Veterans who continue their service to
America by still serving their communities. Veterans whose involvement in
the community creates and supports the feeling of camaraderie which makes
The American Legion the nation's largest and the most respected
organization of wartime veterans.
The following are just a few of the ways our members are
"Still Serving America."
Needy children and families received more than $6
million in cash and goods.
Deserving high school students were awarded $3.8
million in college scholarships.
Local charity campaigns received over $10 million
in donations.
Legion members
donated over 2.7 million hours of service to their communities.
Legion Posts provided over $2 million in emergency
aid to veterans last year.
Over $30 million was spent by The
American Legion and its affiliated organizations for the benefit of children and youth last year.
Legionnaires across the country donate
almost 2 million hours each year in the
VA's Voluntary
Service Program, helping veterans who are patients in
VA medical facilities.
The Legion's Family Support Network has helped
thousands of family members of reserve military personnel called to
active duty with every day needs from simple household repairs to
financial assistance.
That's veterans "Still Serving America."
It's people helping people. It's Americans taking care of America. And
the impressive part of the activities cited above
is the fact that they were achieved by only half of the Legion's 15,000
chartered Posts!
As a Legion member, you will open an unending catalog of
opportunities to expand your life and utilize your unique talents. To more
fully understand the scope of American Legion membership, we invite you to
take just a few minutes to review the following information.
For more information
on The American Legion visit us on the World Wide Web at:
www.legion.org
THESE AMERICANS AGREE:
The American Legion Gives Back More Than It Takes
TOM BROKAW
NBC-TV News Anchorman
 In
1957 I had the privilege of being elected Governor of South Dakota Boys
State. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my young life. Even
now I can remember the excitement of that week. How we learned how
government functioned, the challenges and responsibilities of being in
public service and the political spotlight. I can even remember some of
the press coverage that 1 received that week. Furthermore, I made friends
that week that are friends to this day. We have grown and shared together
a lifetime of experiences that started with South Dakota Boys State.
A program of government instruction and citizenship training
for high school students, American Legion Boys State has been the catalyst
for careers in politics or government service for many nationally
prominent Americans. NBC-TV news anchorman, Tom Brokaw, was one.
BOBBY RICHARDSON
New York Yankees 2nd Baseman
 It seems like most of my life I have been telling
people how I feel about The American Legion Baseball Program. It can
influence your life, whether you're a player, a coach, a sponsor, a civic
leader, or a volunteer who makes the competition possible. From college
scholarships to professional ethics, American Legion Baseball is the one
program that sets an example for others. As America continues to grow, and
our society continues to provide a diverse set of experiences for our
youth, I believe American Legion Baseball has been and will continue to be
among the best programs for grooming all-around leaders.
PROGRAMS
Americanism
Through the following
community and youth-oriented programs The American Legion strives to
further a strong sense of patriotism and loyalty.
American Legion Baseball.
For many years, one of our
country's best-known and most respected amateur athletic programs,
Legion ball has been the training ground for many of our major league
stars. Each year, about 90,000 boys experience the benefits of good
sportsmanship and team play.
Boys State/Boys Nation. American Legion Posts
select outstanding high school students to attend Boys State/Boys Nation
every year. During the week-long program, participants receive
instruction on citizenship and experience first-hand how their state and
federal governments function.
High School Oratorical Competitions.
High school students vie
for college scholarships awarded by The American Legion by demonstrating
their knowledge of the United States Constitution in public speaking
contests on local, state and national levels.
Scouting Sponsorship. Legion Posts sponsor approximately 2,500 Cub
Scout, Boy Scout and Venturing crews each year to foster wholesome
development of America's youth. Annually, The American Legion awards the
Eagle Scout of the Year with a college scholarship.
Flag Education. Through this program, our youth are taught flag
etiquette and proper display of the United States Flag.
Scholarship
Information. "Need a Lift?" is
the Legions annual publication providing information for high school
students on the "hows and wheres" of obtaining college financial aid.
The booklet is distributed nationally to all public and private high schools. In addition, the
Samsung American Legion Scholarship Program is available for those
students who are direct descendants of U.S. wartime veterans.
Scholarships are for undergraduate study at accredited U.S. colleges and
universities.
School Awards. Posts award local
elementary through high school students with special recognition
honoring outstanding leadership, academic excellence and other
character-building qualities.
Junior Shooting Sports. Local Legion Posts
offer youth air rifle competition and basic gun safety instruction.
Patriotic Holiday Observances. Since 1919,
The American Legion has been our country's leader in the observance of
patriotic holidays, sponsoring marching bands, color guards and drill
teams.
Children and Youth. Our Children and Youth
program has three main objectives:
1) to strengthen the family unit;
2) to maintain well-rounded youth programs;
3) to support other organizations which serve
children and youth.
National Family Week. A nationwide
program to encourage family activities each day during the week of
Thanksgiving in November.
Child Health. Our new alliance with
the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) underscores The American Legion's
mission and reputation as a caretaker of America's future - its
children. C.M.N. affiliated hospitals provide quality health care to all
children, regardless of condition or ability to pay.
Teenage Suicide Prevention. Teen suicides
have shocked communities throughout the country. The American Legion
actively supports programs of prevention and awareness and has published
the brochure "Warning Signs: Suicide Prevention."
Temporary Financial
Assistance. This Legion program started in 1925 and provides cash
assistance for needy children of eligible veterans.
American Legion Child
Welfare Foundation. The Foundation is unique, in that all
contributions are awarded in grants to non-profit organizations for
projects designed to assist children.
National Emergency Fund
The American Legion is
actively involved in meeting the needs of both the community and
individual Legion family members in the wake of a natural disaster. Any
current year paid member of The American Legion, the American Legion
Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion is eligible to apply for
temporary financial relief for losses sustained in a declared natural
disaster.
Since October 1989, the
National Emergency Fund has provided over $3,000,000 in direct financial
assistance to Legion family members and posts. All contributions made to
this fund are deposited in a special account and are used exclusively to
meet our members most urgent needs.
Veterans Affairs and
Rehabilitation
The Legion is an
organization of veterans serving other veterans, their widows and
widowers, and their orphans. To this end, the Legion was instrumental in
the creation of the Department of Veterans Affairs (formerly the
Veterans Administration), and is universally recognized as the
originator of the G.I. Bill of Rights, and is constantly working to
protect and preserve the rights and benefits to veterans through service
to their country.
Board of Veterans
Appeals. The Legion operates an Appeals Unit at the Board of
Veterans Appeals in Washington, DC, who specialize in affording
representation to veterans and claimants seeking satisfactory resolution
of benefit claim determinations made by local VA regional offices or VA
medical centers.
National Field Services.
To ensure that veterans receive the quality of medical care they
deserve and expect, the Legion's National Field Services conducts
on-site field visits to individual VA medical centers and to network
offices. The information and data received is used to support VA&.R
activities in both congressional testimony and personal contacts with
Members of Congress.
Military/Naval Discharge
Review and Correction Boards. A
team of Legion representatives provide assistance to former service
members who seek upgrade of their less than honorable discharge or
dismissals from the Armed Services. The Unit also assists veterans in
obtaining decorations and medals through the various Armed Forces.
Persian Gulf Task Force. The American Legion's Persian Gulf War Task
Force was created out of concern for America's newest generation of
wartime veterans, providing service to these veterans, their families
and their advocates. The Task Force has undertaken rigorous
clinical studies, Freedom of Information Act Requests, site visits to VA
and DoD Medical Centers, and VA Regional Offices, and the creation of an
Internet site for Gulf War veterans in need of assistance to call. All
geared to help Gulf War veterans, including those who suffer from Gulf
War illnesses.
Legislative
The American Legion is among
those organizations that wield the greatest influence on the nation's
legislative system. Through strong grassroots lobbying and a dedicated
professional staff. The American Legion's "official voice" in the Halls of
Congress continues to advance the legislative mandates for veterans and
their families.
National Security
The American Legion has
National Security policies in the areas of Aerospace, Energy, Merchant
Marine, Defense Civil Preparedness, Law and Order, and Military and Naval
Affairs. Implementation of these policies is accomplished through
legislative action and coordination with the Department of Defense,
Military Services and other agencies.
Junior Law Cadet Program. Many Legion Posts, working in conjunction with
law enforcement agencies, have established programs to introduce high
school students to law enforcement and to establish cadet camps.
ROTC Recognition Programs. Posts award American Legion ROTC, Military
Excellence and Scholastic Excellence Medals to outstanding high school
and college ROTC students.
Law Enforcement Officer of
the Year Award Programs.
Presented annually at American Legion Post, State, Regional and National
levels to recognize law enforcement officers for extraordinary
performance to include superior community service.
Blood Donor Awards. As
the nation's largest blood donor organization, The American Legion
recognizes States for their individual and collective efforts in
donating this "gift of life."
Employment and Economics
The American Legion has always
been involved in issues that affect veterans economically. These issues
include employment, job training, veterans preference, housing, small
business and vocational rehabilitation. The National Economic Commission
is responsible for ensuring that America's veterans have an opportunity
to provide, with dignity and honor, the economic necessities of life for
themselves and their families. The Commission lobbies Congress and works
closely with many federal agencies. It also works very closely with
private sector organizations such as the National Organization on
Disability, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and the Veterans
Organizations Homeless Council, and the Senior Corps of Retired
Executives.
The American Legion Magazine
As a Legion member you receive
a yearly subscription to The American Legion Magazine at no
additional cost. This colorful monthly issue is packed full of
general-interest features and updates on veterans' benefits to keep you
informed of changes that affect you as a veteran.
Eligibility Requirements
Lorton Post 162 - A Short History
Sam Ramseur - Historian
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