Tag Archive for: Legion Act

The LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service Act) also opens the door for approximately 6 million veterans

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In a significant legislative victory for The American Legion, President Trump signed a bill July 30 that declares the United States has been in a state of war since Dec. 7, 1941.

The American Legion sought the declaration as a way to honor approximately 1,600 U.S. service LegionActmembers who were killed or wounded during previously undeclared periods of war.

The LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service Act) also opens the door for approximately 6 million veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had not been eligible.

“Recognizing the service of these wartime veterans is the right thing do and it is long overdue,” National Commander Brett Reistad said. “The families of those who were killed or wounded during these wartime acts should take pride in knowing that we recognize their sacrifice and service. Moreover, we are proud to welcome any of the six million living veterans from the previously unrecognized periods into our organization and call them ‘Legionnaires.’”

Now that the legislation has been signed, The American Legion’s eligibility criteria immediately changes from seven war eras to two: April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941 to a time later determined by the federal government. No other restrictions to American Legion membership are changed.

https://www.legion.org/membership/246557/legion-act-signed-law

National Commander asks for support to pass LEGION act

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Legionnaires,
 
The LEGION ACT (S. 504) would expand eligibility for membership in The American Legion. If passed, this act may finally allow the many “previously ineligible cold Warriors” to join the Legion, an action which they have been denied due to the rule that membership can only be for those who served in a congressionally-recognized period of war. We all know many vets who sat alert, traversed under the sea and on the sea and stood watch in thousands of hostile zones regardless of Congress’ declaration of a war period during the cold war and other “in-between” periods; those veterans, too, were ready at a moments notice to fight for their country, and in my and numerous other Legionnaires’ view, deserve to be eligible to join The American Legion.
 
Please support this act — send a letter or email to your representatives asking them to vote in favor of it.
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National Commander asks for support to pass LEGION act
 
The U.S. Senate has passed the LEGION Act, which still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives in order to extend the current recognized period of war back to Dec. 7, 1941. The American Legion is seeking such a designation for military members who served their country with honor but whose service fell in gaps between war eras.
 
“Today, we need your help in contacting your members in the House of Representatives,” American Legion National Commander Brett Reistad said. “The LEGION ACT (S. 504) would expand eligibility for membership in The American Legion. Your representative needs to encourage House leadership to bring the LEGION ACT (S. 504) to the floor for a vote, and to promise to vote for this legislation, to ensure all veterans are able to be recognized for their contributions and sacrifice in service to this country.”
 
The LEGION Act – Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service Act – was introduced Feb. 14 in the Senate by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and passed there by unanimous consent on June 11.
 
“The American Legion must continue to serve as a powerful voice for veterans in our nation’s capital,” Reistad said. “The power of our voice is only as strong as our membership allows us to be. Because The American Legion’s membership periods are congressionally chartered, the organization is prevented from expanding membership eligibility without an act of Congress. These acts expand membership eligibility to honorably discharged veterans that have served on federal orders in unrecognized times of war since World War II. Please reach out to your representative and ask them to pass S. 504.”