The LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service Act) opens the door for approximately 6 million additional veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they had not been eligible. Additionally, the LEGION Act honors approximately 1,600 U.S. service members who were killed or wounded during previously undeclared periods of war.
Until now, membership in the American Legion has been limited to veterans who have served in periods of war since and including World War I. Recently the Congress passed and the president signed into law an act that will allow these previously excluded veterans eligibility to join the American Legion. The American Legion was created after World War I by an act of Congress. Therefore, only Congress could change the membership requirements of the American Legion.
Members of the American Legion are entitled to enhanced benefits dueto them by their military service. Benefits include assistance with VA claims, applying for education benefits, career centers to assist with employment, financial counseling. Please see www.legion.org/services for a detailed list and explanation of these benefits and much more.
The representation that the American Legion provided for all veterans at the Vermont State House and in Washington, DC, is the most important of all the benefits. Specially selected American Legion members meet regularly with all of our representatives to promote veterans’ interests. With so many issues being presented to our elected legislative and congressional representatives, without proper communication veterans issues can quickly become relegated to the back burner. There are nearly 2 million members of the American Legion, making it the nation’s largest military service organization.
Now that the legislation has been enacted, the American Legion’s eligibility criteria immediately changes from seven war eras to two: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and December 7, 1941, to a time to be later determined by the federal government. No other restrictions to American Legion membership are changed.
“In an era of partisan gridlock, Republicans and Democrats in Congress overwhelmingly recognized the importance of allowing thousands of honorable but previously ineligible veterans the right to join the largest and most influential veterans organization in the country. The larger pool of veterans now eligible for the American Legion will also open their family members to eligibility in the Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary as well,” said National American Legion Commander Brett Reistad.
Small posts, like the Mad River American Legion Post 75, have struggled mightily with membership numbers in recent years. Many posts have closed and the Mad River post is likely to also close without new members. With this new pool of prospective members, the hope is that small posts, like ours, can continue to exist in our communities for the benefit of our veterans and our community. For more information on becoming a member of the Mad River American Legion Post 75, please contact Cmdr. Fred R. Messer at
Fred Messer lives in Waitsfield, VT.
