The American Legion is definitely worth joining for a variety of reasons. The primary benefit derives from the educational and financial support available through the legion’s network. Those who join the legion can access educational benefits like the American Legion Legacy Scholarship, which helps provide college tuition support for the children of deceased veterans.
The legion also provides emergency financial assistance for veterans and their families in times of economic hardship.
Along with these valuable financial benefits, the American Legion also provides access to a variety of services from employment advice and resources to counseling services for veterans and their families.
It also offers health and fitness programs, including VA-accredited services for those with service-related disabilities. The American Legion advocates for veterans’ rights and interests, participates in policy decisions and supports veteran-friendly legislation.
The American Legion also offers social and leisure activities that strengthen veteran and community ties. Local chapters host events such as cookouts and picnics, family movie nights, camping trips, veteran appreciation day activities, parades and other social-oriented events.
Joining the American Legion is a great way to stay connected to the community and the larger veteran community.
What are the benefits of joining The American Legion?
The American Legion is one of the largest veterans organizations in the United States, with over 2 million members. Members of The American Legion enjoy access to a variety of benefits, such as:
1. Networking Opportunities: Joining The American Legion offers a great opportunity to network with fellow veterans, especially at the local level, where members often find common bonds, shared experiences, and a network of support.
Additionally, they can receive leadership and mentorship training, providing the chance to form strong connections within the veteran community.
2. Advocacy and legislative Support: The American Legion takes an active role in lobbying for legislation that advances the interests and needs of veterans and their families. Additionally, The American Legion provides a voice on behalf of veterans to ensure their concerns and needs are heard by members of Congress and other decision-makers.
This advocacy is incredibly important in helping ensure veterans receive the benefits they deserve.
3. Financial Support: The American Legion National Emergency Fund helps to provide financial assistance to veterans and their families in times of need. In addition, The American Legion sponsors the Temporary Financial Assistance program, which provides financial assistance to families with at least one member who has served or is serving in the U.
S. armed forces.
4. Educational Opportunities: The American Legion offers the Legion College, which is specifically designed to train and develop future Legion leaders. Additionally, they offer scholarships and grants to veterans, active duty service members, and their families in pursuit of higher education, providing much needed financial assistance.
5. Mental Health and Wellness Resources: The American Legion provides resources and assistance for veterans seeking help with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental-health related issues. They also provide state-level crisis and suicide hotline numbers.
By joining The American Legion, veterans can access these and other benefits, as well as work to honor the service and sacrifice of all veterans. By connecting veterans across the country and providing assistance and financial support, The American Legion helps to ensure that veterans are remembered, respected, and honored for the service they have provided.
What is the average age of an American Legion member?
The average age of an American Legion member is 67. This is based on the most recent information from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which shows that there are over 2 million members of the American Legion in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The age range of members is wide, with the youngest being 18, and the oldest estimated at 100. This shows a median age of 67, which is reflected in the average age of members.
The American Legion was founded in 1919 as a veterans’ organization committed to helping veterans and promoting a strong sense of patriotism. Today, members come from a wide range of backgrounds and ages, with many of its members veterans of the various branches of the United States military.
Additionally, many members are not veterans, but relatives of veterans or those who have served in the military in some capacity. The American Legion is one of the largest and most influential veterans’ organizations in the United States.
What is better American Legion or VFW?
Each organization is a valuable resource for veterans of the United States military, providing a host of services and benefits, such as financial assistance, scholarships, mental health resources, employment assistance and much more.
Ultimately, it is up to individual veterans and their families to decide which organization is best for their personal requirements and needs.
The American Legion is the oldest and largest veterans organization in the United States and aims to support servicemembers and their families both in and out of the military. They offer a multitude of services and programs, including disaster relief, community service projects, legislative advocacy, and economic assistance.
Additionally, the organization is deeply involved in veterans advocacy and Post-9/11 GI Bill improvements.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1899 to help take care of servicemembers returning home from the Spanish-American War. It has since grown to become an organization dedicated to advocating for all veterans and their families.
Services provided by the VFW include transitional assistance, career counseling, mental health benefits, health and family resources, and more. They also advocate for veteran-owned small businesses.
Ultimately, veterans and their families should do their research to decide which organization is best suited for their particular needs. Both organizations are highly respected for their commitment to the veteran community and their tireless advocacy for the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
What political party does The American Legion support?
The American Legion is a nonpartisan organization, which means it does not officially support any single political party. With that said, the American Legion has supported political candidates from both major parties over the years and takes public positions on issues of governing.
Its official stance is to support veterans, military personnel, and their families, while advocating for responsible measures that ensure the nation’s security, promote peace and foster economic development.
The president of the organization, James W. “Bill” Oxford, regularly communicates with members of Congress and the White House, on behalf of the membership. It is estimated that the American Legion’s membership accounts for two-thirds of the veterans voting population in the U.
S. Therefore, the organization’s stance on political issues can be seen as having a large influence over voting preferences of veterans.
What does The American Legion actually do?
The American Legion is one of the largest veteran’s organizations in the United States. The organization serves to advocate for the fair treatment of veterans and their families by providing a network of support and assistance.
The Legion provides assistance for both veterans and active-duty service members and their families in a variety of areas. These include health care, education, employment, housing, and legal assistance.
One of the ways the Legion assists veterans is through their many outreach programs. These programs are designed to help veterans in a variety of areas including: job placement, financial counseling, college scholarships, legal assistance, healthcare, suicide prevention, and more.
American Legion posts also offer many social and recreational opportunities to veterans and their families. These activities include community events, holiday celebrations, and sporting leagues.
The American Legion strives to protect veterans and their families’ interests at the national level. Legionnaires are actively involved in legislation and regulatory action to ensure veterans receive the benefits they have earned.
Overall, The American Legion seeks to serve veterans and their families in all aspects of their lives — from providing physical and emotional well-being to advocating for their rights.
What percentage of donations go to VFW?
The percentage of donations that go to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) varies depending upon the purpose of the donation. The VFW is composed of separate charitable and educational organizations, meaning that each organization receives a different percentage of income from donations.
In general, the percentage of donations to the VFW goes towards funding programs and services that provide assistance to veterans, military service members and their families, as well as supporting legislative and other initiatives intended to improve the lives of veterans and military personnel.
The organization regularly reports on the breakdown of funds received from donations. In 2020, the VFW released a breakdown of its income that revealed that 44% of donations went towards veterans service, 35% went towards membership programs and services, and 15% went towards other programs and services.
Additionally, 4% of total donations were allocated to the VFW’s “Unmet Needs” program which provides additional financial assistance to veterans and their families for unexpected expenses not otherwise covered.
The VFW also receives generous donations from philanthropic and corporate partners, and these numbers are not included in the 44%, 35%, 15%, and 4% breakdown. For example, in 2018 the organization was presented with a $2.
2 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs to support the VFW’s Unmet Needs program.
In general, the percentage of donations to the VFW is used for funding programs and services to support veterans, active service members and their families, as well as to protect and advance the rights of veterans.
It is also used to further the mission and objectives of the VFW to serve veterans and their families.
Is joining the VFW worth it?
Joining the VFW can be a great way to show your support for those who have sacrificed so much for our country. Membership dues provide necessary funds to ensure that veterans have access to a variety of benefits and services.
At the same time, members receive discounts on items like car rentals, hotel stays, office supplies, and more.
In addition to providing a tangible way of showing appreciation to veterans, VFW members also have access to members-only activities and events. These are often geared towards providing emotional and physical support to veterans, including things like educational seminars, recreational activities, and holiday celebrations support.
Depending on your location, you may also be able to get discounts on VA loans or access to specialized health care such as financial counseling, emotional or mental health counseling, or physical therapy.
Ultimately, whether or not joining the VFW is worth it is a personal decision. If you feel passionate about giving back to veterans and you benefit from the discounts and services that VFW membership offers, joining can be a rewarding experience.
Is American Legion good for VA claims?
The American Legion is an excellent resource for veterans who are filing VA claims. The American Legion offers a number of services that can help veterans successfully file VA claims. These services include helping veterans apply for benefits, providing resources to assist in the claims process, and helping them understand their rights concerning the VA system.
The American Legion also offers free legal assistance for veterans who are filing a VA claim, which can be a great asset for veterans who may be unfamiliar with the claims process. In addition, many local American Legion chapters host seminars and workshops to help veterans understand and navigate the VA claims process.
Finally, the American Legion keeps veterans up to date on changes to the VA system and can provide one-on-one assistance with filing VA claims. All of these services can be extremely helpful to a veteran filing a VA claim, making the American Legion a great resource.
Is a VFW membership good at all locations?
No, a VFW membership is typically not good at all locations. Each VFW Post is owned and operated independently and as a result, the benefits of a VFW membership may vary from Post to Post. Some VFW Posts may offer general discounts or other local benefits for members, which may be limited to that particular Post.
Members of a VFW Post may also be able to access additional benefits of VFW membership at other VFW Posts, but they will typically need to present their VFW membership card or join the VFW at the other Post in order to access those benefits.
In most cases, the benefits of VFW membership are specific to the individual Post and are not automatically good at all VFW locations.
What American Legion post has the most members?
The American Legion post with the most members is Post 1 in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1919, the post currently has an estimated 1,300 members, making it the largest post in the United States. Post 1 first gained national attention in the 1920’s when members squared off against local police for the right to fly the American flag in defiance of local laws.
It has continued to be a major presence in the Seattle area and currently sponsors a range of youth programs, including a fun run and activities on Memorial Day. Throughout its long and distinguished history, Post 1 has led the fight to prepare veterans for their return to civilian life and address their unique needs in the service of their country.
Does American Legion support Trump?
The American Legion is a nonpartisan organization and does not take positions on political issues. However, members of The American Legion may express their own political views, among them support for Donald Trump.
The organization states on its website that: “We believe it is important that each individual have the right to assemble peacefully and petition their government for redress of grievances, as well as to express their opinion through words or action on issues of public affairs and government policies.
” This does not mean that the American Legion organization formally endorses President Trump, but that individual members are entitled to their own political opinions.
Therefore, it is likely that some members of The American Legion may be supportive of President Trump, although no organizational endorsement of any candidate is issued.
Do you have to be military to join the Legion?
No, you do not have to be in the military to join the Legion. The American Legion is open to all veterans who have served honorably during wartime. This includes veterans from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, as well as members of the reserve components, National Guard, and Selected Reserve units.
To be eligible, you must have served at least one day in the active military service, during a war period defined by the American Legion.
Are all Legion members veterans?
No, not all Legion members are veterans. The American Legion was founded in 1919 to provide support for those returning from World War I and is mainly comprised of veterans from that war and all other conflicts since.
However, anyone may join the Legion as a post member. According to the Legion’s website, “Membership in The American Legion is open to anyone who served in the armed forces of the United States or its allies, during a time of war, including members of the National Guard or Reserve, provided they have been discharged or have been honorable released from active service or have died in the line of duty.
”.
In addition to veterans, the Legion also welcomes non-veterans who wish to contribute to its mission of service to veterans, the military, and their communities. These non-veteran members are essential to the Legion’s success.
They can support veterans and the military by raising awareness, participating in advocacy work, providing volunteer services, and participating in Legion programs and events. They may also serve on Legion committees and become officers and representatives of their respective posts.
What are perks to being a legion member?
Being a member of the Legion can have some great perks. Firstly, members have exclusive access to Legion services like their national and provincial publications, websites, and programs. Secondly, members get special discounts on things like travel, hotels, car rentals, and gas.
Thirdly, members can take advantage of the Legion’s financial programs, such as the pension plan, savings and investment opportunities, and insurance plans. Fourthly, members and veterans can get assistance with employment, education, and career development.
Finally, members can bond and socialize through Legion membership and activities, such as parades, games, trips, and official celebrations. All in all, the Legion is a great place to build lifelong friendships, develop leadership skills, and get access to services and resources that can help make life a bit easier.