Still serving: it’s who we are
In 1919, The American Legion was founded on four pillars: Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth. Each of these pillars encompasses a variety of programs that benefit our nation’s veterans, its servicemembers, their families, the youth of America and ordinary citizens. These programs make a difference in hundreds of thousands of lives each year.
Our organization’s positions and programs are guided by resolutions passed by American Legion National Convention delegates, and committee and commission members who represent 2.6 million wartime veterans and their families. These programs, and the men and women who take the time to perform them, are what allow The American Legion to make a difference locally, and on the state and national levels. It’s who we are and what we do.
THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
I. Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
- Access to VA Care
- Better Funding Formula
- Support for Veterans with Special Needs
- Career Opportunities
- A GI Bill for a New Century
- Employment and Business
- Heroes to Hometowns
- Volunteering
- Final Respects
II. National Security
- Strong National Defense
- Military Quality of Life
- Homeland Security
- Foreign Relations
- Full Accounting of
- POW/MIAs
- Operation Comfort Warriors
III. Americanism
- Flag Protection
- Illegal Immigration
- Voter Registration and Participation
- Boy Scouts
- The Pledge of Allegiance
- Establishment-Clause Lawsuits
IV. Children & Youth
- Child Pornography
- Catastrophic Illness
- Intellectual Disabilities
- Immunization
- Family Integrity
- Media Violence
- Drug Abuse
- Child Sexual Exploitation
Preamble
to The American Legion Constitution
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES
TOGETHER FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
To uphold and defend the Constitution
of the United States of America
To maintain law and order
To foster and perpetuate a
one hundred percent Americanism
To preserve the memories and incidents
of our associations in the Great Wars
To inculcate a sense of individual obligation
to the community, state and nation
To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses
To make right the master of might
To promote peace and goodwill on earth
To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of
justice, freedom and democracy
To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship
by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
