[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5055-S5056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 100th 
anniversary of the American Legion. I appreciate the opportunity to 
speak about this truly significant milestone in the history of our 
veterans and this organization. The centennial celebration is a 
historical benchmark for the State of Michigan, as well as the entire 
Nation.
  Established in 1919 in Paris, France, the American Legion was founded 
to bolster the morale of American troops as they awaited their return 
home as recently discharged combat veterans following the Great War. In 
September of the same year, the American Legion was federally chartered 
by Congress. By November 1919, the American Legion had 2,500 paid 
members and hosted its first national convention in Indianapolis, which 
then became the permanent home of the American Legion National 
Headquarters.
  With local posts in each State, various territories, and overseas, 
the American Legion is our Nation's largest wartime Veterans' service 
organization. The Legion embodies its commitment of upholding the 
Constitution of the United States of America and promoting peace and 
goodwill through its volunteerism in the communities it represents.
  The Legion's grassroots involvement has shaped legislation at all 
levels of government. Within its inaugural year, Legionnaires across 
the country advocated for better conditions for disabled veterans in 
Washington, DC. Within a week, Congress passed the Sweet Bill which 
included provisions that would more than double the compensation 
disabled veterans were receiving at the time. In 1921, The American 
Legion claimed another legislative victory with the consolidation of 
three Federal agencies into the Veterans Bureau, which would later 
become the Veterans Administration.
  The American Legion created various organizations to support the 
Nation's veterans and youth, including the Veterans and Children 
Foundation and Sons of the American Legion. Since its creation in 1924, 
the foundation has given over $30 million in financial assistance for 
disabled veterans and military families. Through scholarships and 
programming, the Legion also invests in the future of our Nation's 
youth.
  Today, with 386 posts in Michigan and more than 12,000 posts 
nationwide with nearly 2 million members, the American Legion continues 
to grow to support the needs of today's veterans. Whether it is 
drafting the first version of the GI Bill, organizing our flag code, or 
donating to the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 
Washington, DC, the Legion has been at the forefront of monumental 
changes to our military and veterans policy and overall patriotism.
  It is my great pleasure to congratulate the American Legion on the 
lasting impact it has made throughout our Nation's history and for the 
work it continues to do. As the American Legion celebrates this 
centennial milestone, I ask all my colleagues to join

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me in congratulating its members its growth and prosperity in the years 
ahead.

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