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 all 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.
The American Legion National Headquarters 700 N. Pennsylvania St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 630-1200
P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206
The American Legion Washington Office 1608 K St. NW Washington, D.C. 20006 (202) 861-2700
John H. Geiger Operations Center 5745 Lee Road Indianapolis, IN 46216 (317) 860-3100
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
The American Legion has been summoned to provide testimony and review legislation at a blistering pace during the 119th Congress. Nearly 400 bills and proposed legislation received Legion review in the first session alone. Five Legion-backed bills became law in 2025 – including the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026, which repealed outdated authorizations for the use of military force that the organization had sought and urged through resolution in recent years.
That pace continued throughout the second session as staff policy experts testified on issues ranging from protection of veteran data to removal of financing barriers to obtain VA home loans.
The American Legion Grassroots Action Center – accessible through legion.org/ advocacy/legislative – drew, and continues to draw, thousands of messages from Legionnaires to lawmakers.
“Since 1919, the Legion has been instrumental in landmark changes like the GI Bill, creation of the modern VA, appeals modernization, and the MISSION Act .... Our mission, every single day, is to serve those who served us.”
National Commander Dan Wiley, during testimony March 4 before a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees
369
Separate bills reviewed by American Legion national policy analysts in the first session of the 119th Congress
22
In-person testimonies and statements for the record submitted to Congress by national Legion policy analysts in the first session of the 119th Congress
8,700
Minimum number of petitions sent to Congress by mid-November from American Legion members calling for passage of the Major Richard Star Act, also known as the “wounded veterans tax”
BE THE ONE
“I don’t think there’s a better feeling than allowing our community, somebody in our community, to realize we’re here. We, as The American Legion, as a community, are here for you. We have to let people know there is help. There are people to talk to. There is someplace to turn.”
Mattie McIntyre, commander of John W. Dill Post 434 in Brocton, N.Y., which hosted a craft show and flea market themed on Be the One
250
Be the One bracelets made by Florida Legionnaire Tina Charney Burgess to raise awareness about veteran suicide prevention as part of the USA 250 Challenge
7,223
Be the One events conducted by 2,917 posts in 2024-2025
The American Legion’s Be the One veteran-suicide prevention mission remains the organization’s highest priority. Immediately after his election in August, National Commander Dan Wiley called Be the One “a personal and passionate mission for me. Taking care of one another is what we do. It’s who we are.”
While Be the One is a national program, its biggest impact happens at the local and department levels. In Tennessee, Department Commander Todd McKinley established a Be the One Commission with about a dozen Legion Family members from across the state. In Kentucky, a Be the One walk organized by Hardin Post 113 in Elizabethtown drew more than 350 participants. And in Maryland, Overlea-Perry Hall Post 130 conducted a Be the One event that raised $30,000 for two state nonprofits that work with veterans, including in the area of suicide prevention.
USA 250 CHALLENGE
In celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday, The American Legion created the yearlong USA 250 Challenge. Modeled after the organization’s 100 Miles for Hope challenge (2020-2022), the USA 250 Challenge offered participants three categories to pursue, either as individuals or in teams:
• Physical fitness Participants could walk, bike, swim or do other physical activities with a goal of 250 units such as miles or hours. Alternatively, they could do 250 minutes of yoga, gardening or other fitness activities.
• Mental wellness Individuals or teams could conduct 250 Buddy Checks, organize and lead 250 hours of Be the One training, ride a motorcycle 250 miles for mental health, or engage in similar activities that center on improving mental health.
• Community service Posts or members could perform service projects, from assembling care packages for deployed troops to hosting retirement ceremonies for tattered flags and spending 250 hours volunteering at VA hospitals or veterans retirement homes. In addition to improving fitness, sharpening wellness and helping others, USA 250 Challenge participants also boosted the Veterans & Children Foundation (VCF). Proceeds from registration fees, as well as donations to challenge participants, all went toward the VCF, which funds training for accredited service officers and provides emergency grants for military and veteran families in need. The challenge will conclude on July 4, 2026, but its impact will endure.
“Sometimes the struggle is real, and I started thinking about that through the pain. It led me to think about our brothers and sisters, our veterans .... You have to persevere. That’s a big part of what The American Legion does: give hope to those who are struggling. I’m using that pain I feel every day as a drive to continue to motivate some people. There is hope out there.”
Department of Indiana Commander Ron Patterson, who rucked more than 250 miles for the USA 250 Challenge and became its top fundraiser
AMERICA’S 250th ANNIVERSARY
Onstage at the 2026 Washington Conference Commander’s Call on March 2, American Legion National Commander Dan Wiley and America250 Executive Vice President Jennifer Condon signed an agreement formalizing The American Legion as an official national resource partner to the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission (america250.org). Prior to the signing, Wiley explained the Legion’s “why” to the crowd: “Educating future generations about our nation’s history is the most tangible method to keep the sacrifices and legacy of veterans alive. You simply cannot celebrate a great nation without celebrating its greatest heroes.”
The relationship had been encouraged locally and regionally to posts and departments by a National Executive Committee resolution in 2025, and they have been busy planning since. Camp Jackson Post 112 in Brownstown, Ind., is working on a special Fourth of July parade titled “250 Years, the Story of Us.” And the Department of Utah American Legion Family has committed to support at least 27 special events around the state.
Among the national America250 initiatives the Legion Family will participate in or promote in their communities are:
• The America’s Field Trip contest, which invites students grades 3-12 to share their perspectives on what America means to them, with the opportunity to earn a field-trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks
• America Gives, an initiative challenging businesses, nonprofits, schools, youth groups, faith-based networks and other organizations to commit to increasing their volunteering and impact starting in 2026
• Our American Story, a storytelling project to collect and preserve our nation’s unique stories via a nationwide tour
U.S. Army photo
“Let’s have some fun showing the world who we are, what we do, and why we so love our nation that we pledged our lives to defend it.”
Past National Commander
Dan Seehafer, chairman of the American Legion
Ad Hoc Committee on the 250th Anniversary of America
14
High school sophomores, juniors and seniors who participated in the America250-Ohio History Bee in Columbus on Feb. 19, eligible via their scores on the Department of Ohio’s Americanism and Government Test
CLAIMS SUPPORT
Accredited American Legion service officers and appeals representatives had a record-breaking year in 2025, providing free expert assistance for tens of thousands of veterans and their families. In addition to initial claims applications and other help provided by more than 3,000 service officers nationwide, American Legion staff appeals representatives handled more than 10,000 cases throughout the year, helping veterans receive $53.6 million in retroactive awards that had been due to them.
The Legion, a national leader in veterans benefits assistance, also actively testified before Congress on the need to continue improving the process and ensure fair, timely delivery of earned benefits. The organization assesses performance through site visits to VA regional offices as part of its ROAR (Regional Office Action Review) process.
$31 billion
Amount in VA benefits secured free of charge for veterans in fiscal 2025 by accredited American Legion service officers and appeals representatives
“The American Legion is in the right place to get a lot of these things done for veterans. It’s emotional for me to see that even outside of the military, we’re still a family. We still come together. We still help each other out. Nobody’s getting left behind.”
Rodney Moore, an Army veteran who traveled from Germany to Tampa, Fla., to get free assistance at a VA claims clinic during the 106th American Legion National Convention
ARMY-NAVY GAME
“Anybody you’re talking to today, this might be the last day they want to be here. But it might be something I said, something you said, a smile or a handshake that gives them the will to get through one more day.”
Department of Maryland Commander Nikki Randolph, who helped staff the American Legion Be the One activation trailer at the Army-Navy Game Presented by USAA
For the second straight year, The American Legion was an associate sponsor and exclusive veterans service organization of the Army-Navy Game Presented by USAA, when the two teams squared off Dec. 13 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Legion branding appeared on the main videoboard during the game, and a Be the One activation display was positioned at the start of the Fan Walk, where Legion Family members greeted fellow members and veterans with free gifts and provided VA claims assistance. Inside the stadium, a smaller display gave attendees an opportunity to get photos in front of Go Army or Go Navy backdrops.
Prior to the game, a Be the One trailer was stationed in the muster area to provide free water for the cadets and midshipmen. More than 100 Legion posts nationwide hosted watch parties, inviting their communities to join in the fun.
7.84 million
Viewership of the Army-Navy Game, making it CBS’s largest audience of the season
296,240
Facebook views for 16 posts in the week leading up to, during and the week following the game
CANNABIS
Nearly a decade had passed since the 2016 American Legion National Convention passed a resolution calliing for marijuana to be reclassified into a category that “at a minimum, will recognize cannabis as a drug with potential medical value.” With National Commander Dan Wiley at his shoulder, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Dec. 18 moving cannabis from Schedule 1, shared with such hard drugs as heroin and cocaine, to Schedule 3, which opens the door to federally legal research.
Veterans with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions have reported successful outcomes from cannabis treatment in states where it is legal. The American Legion has long advocated for development of alternative treatments to fight “the war within” and toward reduction of dependency on prescription medication, some of which can be addictive and have dangerous effects on veterans.
White House photo
“Reclassification is not legalization and does not mandate use. It simply removes federal barriers to research and informed decision-making.”
American Legion National Commander Dan Wiley after the Oval Office ceremony
WINNING THE WAR WITHIN
Since its founding more than a century ago, The American Legion has been a strong voice for men and women who come home mentally and emotionally changed by military service. Determined advocacy led to clinical recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder as a psychological diagnosis in 1980. Since then, the Legion has worked with lawmakers and VA to advance therapeutic treatments and deployed the power of peerto-peer support for those in need of help.
In more recent years, the Legion’s highest priority has been reduction and prevention of veteran suicide. Through the Be the One initiative, more than 20,000 people have been trained nationwide to detect suicidality and take steps to prevent it among those who have served in uniform. Since 2001, veteran suicide rates have increased by 52%, more than double that of civilians.
The Legion supports alternative options for pain medication; opioid-dependent veterans are 90% more likely than others to die by suicide. The organization also has called for an improved military sexual trauma claims process; veterans who have experienced sexual trauma have a 75% higher suicide rate than others. Another emerging comorbidity is chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a type of brain injury often caused by multiple mild traumatic brain injuries.
From community therapy programs organized by local posts to advocacy on Capitol Hill, “winning the war within” remains a vital mission of the Legion at the community, state and national levels.
“I think we can fundamentally solve the challenge of mental health that has afflicted the veteran community and now, if you’re tracking, is spreading into the active-duty community in ways we haven’t seen before.”
Boulder Crest Foundation CEO Josh Goldberg, speaking at a Be the One Mental Wellness Committee meeting during the 2025 Washington Conference
2
Suicide’s rank as leading cause of death among veterans under 45
17.5
Veterans who die by suicide each day, according to VA
AUMF REPEAL
Among the key legislative victories for The American Legion in 2025 was the repeal of outdated Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) against Iraq.
In late December, Congress approved the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026, which included the provision to repeal 1991 and 2002 AUMFs. This effort aimed to end the legal justification for potentially decades-old conflicts, preventing their misuse for modern operations and reasserting Congress’s constitutional role in authorizing war.
The American Legion was among the leading voices to rescind the AUMFs. In fact, the National Executive Committee approved Resolution 22 in October 2020, addressing the “Forever Wars.” The resolution urged “a renewal of a proper constitutional balance to American foreign policy decision-making by encouraging Congress to repeal and replace outdated Authorizations for Use of Military Force.”
“After years of effort, it is so important for these outdated authorities to be rescinded and for Congress to have the opportunity to reassert itself in the process of determining when it is justified in sending our troops to war.”
American Legion Executive Director Mario Marquez
U.S. Air Force photo
EMERGENCY SUPPORT
“That was very heartwarming to see, how the American Legion Family stepped up and really took control of the situation. It’s like a command center for the communities. And adjacent to their property is where FEMA is set up. And to see the Legion Family embraced by the community is fantastic.”
Immediate Past American Legion National Commander Jim LaCoursiere, following a tour of Kerrville, Texas, after severe flooding
In 2025, the American Legion National Emergency Fund disbursed $160,157 in relief to Legion posts and Legionnaires affected by flooding, fires and other natural disasters.
At the community level, American Legion Family members provided a different form of relief. Two shining examples are Kerrville Memorial Post 208 in Kerrville, Texas, and Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283 in California.
In Texas, heavy showers from earlier in the week caused massive flooding in Kerr County on July 4, resulting in the deaths of at least 137 people. Within two days, Post 208 had set up a relief area for first responders, providing snacks, clothing, supplies and more, as well as a place to sleep.
In California, the January Palisades fire destroyed more than 6,800 structures, but Post 283 remained standing. It became a disaster relief center, providing resources, paperwork, information, meals and a place for the community to come together.
“The reality is this: For us, having that military background is like, ‘OK, and now what?’ That’s the question I always ask. When we started looking at this, it was ... ‘OK, how do we serve? How do we help our neighbors who have lost their homes? What can we do?’ It’s just an instinct.”
Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283 member Richard Lombari, who helped with relief efforts even after losing his home in the Palisades fire
CAREERS
“There’s no better time to be a veteran-owned small business in the United States than right now, I think, with the support of SBA.”
Kevin Barber, assistant administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Through partnerships at the national, department and post levels, The American Legion continues to strive to help veterans, military spouses and transitioning servicemembers find not only new jobs, but new careers.
The Veterans Employment & Education Commission works with programs like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes and MilitaryHire to present and promote in-person job fairs (including at the Legion’s national convention) and virtual events that link job seekers and employers nationwide. These include best practices on networking, the use of LinkedIn and other guidance.
At the department level, the Legion works with state agencies to help serve those looking for careers, through such events as New Jersey’s annual Casino Career Fair. And more than 1,000 posts a year nationwide open their doors to host job fairs.
102,377
Job seekers placed in employment via American Legion post activities in the 20242025 membership year, according to the national Consolidated Post Report
HOMELESS VETERANS
The American Legion continues to be committed to helping homeless veterans through advocacy, essential services and its Homeless Veterans Task Force.
The Legion recognizes that aiding homeless veterans requires a sustained, coordinated effort that should provide secure housing and nutritious meals; essential health care, substance abuse aftercare and mental-health counseling; and personal development and empowerment. Homeless veterans also need job assessments, training and placement assistance. The ultimate goal is total self-management.
Each American Legion department has a Homeless Veterans Task Force chairman and employment chairman who assist homeless or destitute veterans who contact them. They also coordinate activities with posts to aid these veterans and their families.
“I don’t understand the (political) debate, because I don’t think there should be any barrier to a veteran getting housed.”
Michael Raposa, CEO, St. Vincent de Paul CARES
RESOURCES
Veterans Crisis Line Dial 988, then press 1
The VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans gives homeless and at-risk veterans free access to trained counselors 24/7. (877) 424-3838 (877) 4AID VET
Veterans Justice Outreach Centers Each VA medical center has been asked to designate a facilitybased Veterans Justice Outreach Initiative specialist, responsible for direct outreach, assessment and case management for justiceinvolved veterans in local courts and jails. This specialist also serves as a liaison with local justice-system partners. va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is a resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency supportive housing and more. nchv.org
VETERANS & CHILDREN FOUNDATION
The Veterans & Children Foundation (VCF), created in 1925 as the American Legion Endowment Fund, has assisted millions of veterans, their families and children in need over the past century.
Today, VCF provides life-changing assistance by funding:
• Training for accredited American Legion service officers who provide free, reputable claims assistance for any veteran at no cost
• Grants for military families with minor children facing financial crisis. These grants can help cover the cost of rent, utilities and other necessities while the family recovers.
VCF provides resources through Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) grants. For example, during the 2025 government shutdown, Army veteran Ernesto Rios Soto – a federal technician for the Department of the Army – faced financial hardship while caring for his children and wife, who was unemployed. “Our family was living paycheck to paycheck, and covering essential expenses such as mortgage, utilities, groceries and gas became an overwhelming challenge,” he says. Then the Legion stepped in.
“The TFA grant allowed us to pay our mortgage, relieve some financial stress and keep a roof over our heads,” Rios Soto adds. “We are deeply grateful to the Legion for their generosity and compassion. Their assistance made a significant difference for our family, and we will always appreciate their commitment to veterans and their families.”
$1,390,277
Donations to the American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation in 2025
Note: Numbers subject to final audit
$64,476
Amount of 2025 TFA grants to 34 veterans and their families in 19 departments
CORPORATE ALLIANCES
“You just created a parentchild relationship through youth shooting. And Daisy is like The American Legion ... they’re all about family, all about community. And they push for parent involvement.”
Randy Holmes, Crosman special products manager, on the company’s plan to offer the Daisy 499B – a single-shot 5-meter competition BB gun – at a discounted price for posts to start their own Junior Shooting Sports programs. For youth not old enough to load the air rifle, a range officer or parent will stand next to them on the firing line with BBs in their pocket to reload it, prepare it for shooting and hand it off.
1.4 million+
Veterans and family members who receive the weekly Thank You Thursday email, with offers and discounts from Legion partners
$5.8 million+
Amount brought into The American Legion by its partners in 2025
The American Legion relies on the generous support of corporations through sponsorships, cause-marketing initiatives, and in-kind and philanthropic donations to further its mission. In 2025, the organization’s partnerships expanded to 37 companies dedicated to offering new ways to engage Legionnaires and support post activities.
• Daisy’s Red Ryder BB Gun, an American classic, began production on an American Legion-exclusive design supporting the Junior Shooting Sports Program.
• Eli Lilly and Company began a partnership with the Legion to offer brain health resources and Alzheimer’s advocacy in support Legionnaires’ mental health.
• Consumer Cellular extended its partnership, and deepened its investment, in the Legion by sponsoring a gaming booth at the 2025 National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
The Legion continues to have a presence at NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, from promoting its Be the One and USA 250 Challenge initiatives to conducting track walks with celebrity drivers such as Graham Rahal.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
For over a decade, members of the American Legion Family attending the national convention have gathered to take part in a community service project in the host city. Together they have cleaned up city parks, helped repair homeless veterans’ housing facilities, made improvements to a community center and more.
During the 2025 National Convention in Tampa, Fla., 50 Legion Family members worked together to dig up, realign, scour and refresh stone gravemarkers that had sunk into the earth at the 102-year-old USS Tampa American Legion Post 5 Cemetery. Among the volunteers were American Legion Past National Commanders Denise Rohan and Mike Helm, along with American Legion Auxiliary Past National President Lisa Williamson and then-Auxiliary National President Trish Ward.
“We did our part when we were in the service. We are just continuing it. We take care of cemeteries back home, veterans and even civilians. We place flags, of course, to honor our veterans.”
Steve Murin of St. Michael Post 551 in St. Michael, Pa.
“It’s really great to see people come out here and care. We volunteer our time. We come out at least once a year and clean the stones, but it’s really great to have people who are specialized and can show other people how to straighten out the stones and lift them back and make them look beautiful again .... kind of spruce the cemetery back up.”
Brian Fuerst, a Gold Star Family member and member of USS Tampa Sons of The American Legion Squadron 5 in Tampa, Fla.
BASEBALL
American Legion Baseball celebrated its centennial in 2025 with congratulations from Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and video shoutouts from a number of Legion Baseball alumni who are now in Major League Baseball; the Centennial Classic, a four-team tournament in ALB’s birthplace of Milbank, S.D., won by Glenwood/Lowry (Minn.) Posts 187/253; and the 98th American Legion World Series, won by Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280.
Post 280 brought the Department of Virginia its second World Series title, and the players and coaches earned a trip to Los Angeles for Game 4 of the MLB World Series between the Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Dodgers’ World Series win earned championship rings for Alex Call and J.P. Feyereisen, who played Legion Baseball together for Post 121 in River Falls, Wis.
90
American Legion Baseball alumni enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., once Jeff Kent (Bellflower, Calif.) is inducted as part of the Class of 2026 in July
“When national said they wanted to have a mini-World Series here because of the 100-year celebration, we just looked at each other and said, ‘Yes. We’re going to get it done.’”
Noel Cummins, commander of Birch-Miller Post 9 in Milbank, S.D., on helping organize the Centennial Classic
FLAG SUPPORT
“There is no better symbol of our country’s values and traditions than that of the flag of the United States of America. It is an important reminder that we are all one body as a nation and people.”
Jeffrey Unger, a retired Air Force veteran and Legionnaire from Panama City, Fla., who has raised more than 430 flags at homes in his community to support the Legion’s USA 250 Challenge
The American Legion added to its portfolio of educational flag materials this year with the release of “Rise of Our Flag” for junior-high readers and older. The 65-page graphic novel illustrates the journey of America’s symbol from its origins to the 21st century, where it still flies as a beacon of hope. The book also features a guide to the U.S. Flag Code, an illustration of Legionnaires conducting a flag retirement ceremony, and historic moments of the flag rising from rubble following famous battles and the 9/11 attacks.
From flag Q&As to historical social media graphics and educational publications, The American Legion has a variety of resources to instill knowledge, pride and respect for our flag. Visit legion.org/flag for these resources and to purchase “Rise of Our Flag.”
1,611,669
American-made U.S. flags sold through Emblem Sales in 2025
240
U.S. Flag Code inquiries fielded by the National Americanism Division in 2025
47,497
Copies of “Our Country’s Flag” youth comic book sold in 2025
27,715
Copies of “I Pledge Allegiance” youth comic book sold in 2025
LEGION FAMILY
“If there’s one thing I can suggest that aids in membership growth, it’s communicate, communicate, communicate.”
Sons of The American Legion Detachment of South Carolina
Adjutant Danny Rollins
For the third consecutive year, the Sons of The American Legion (SAL) achieved record membership, closing 2025 with 404,941 members. This milestone continues a longstanding trend of growth. Since 1983 - the first year of reliable membership tracking – the SAL has experienced year-over-year increases in all but 2020 and 2021, which were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Membership has grown from 66,207 in 1983 to its current record level. While membership rebounded in 2022, totals remained below the previous high of 375,540 members set in 2019.
The American Legion Auxiliary, founded in 1919, welcomes female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion, women veterans and, since 2019, male spouses. Like the SAL, the Auxiliary works closely with the Legion from the national to post level, fulfilling traditional programs like National Poppy Day to newer initiatives such as Buddy Checks.
2000
Year the American Legion Auxiliary began supporting the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival – a VA program that showcases the artistic achievements of veterans in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music –through donations and volunteering
296
Buddy Checks conducted Sept. 27-28 by a group of American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary members at Dyer-Gunnell Post 180 in Vienna, Va.
MEMBERSHIP
“I attribute my recruiting success to having enough knowledge to represent The American Legion in depth. I can tell veterans about any of our four pillars, any of our programs.”
George Delaney, commander of Post 300 in Columbia, Md., and a Gold Brigade Award recipient
Three-year memberships continue to prove successful as current members and new joiners take advantage of the option. More than 13,000 people chose this benefit in 2025.
Recruiters are key to The American Legion’s mission to serve veterans, military families, youth and community. Last year, the organization recognized 163 Legionnaires for their outstanding membership recruiting efforts with the Gold Brigade (50 or more new members), Silver Brigade (25 to 49 new members) and Bronze Brigade (15 to 24 new members) awards.
With Direct Mail Service (DMS), the Legion’s primary national recruiting program, posts are encouraged to contact members placed into “headquarters” via MyLegion to transfer them into a local post. This is an opportunity to retain members and get them involved with post activities that support veterans and youth.
A new-member welcome kit is also available for guidance in recruiting and retaining members, including do’s and don’ts, best practices for posts in welcoming and engaging new members, and other tools to create a lasting impression. Join more than 2,000 others who have downloaded the kit at legion.org/publications.
63,793
Members – and counting – who have locked in three-year memberships since December 2023
66,833
Members who joined The American Legion for the first time in 2025
26,112
DMS “headquarters” members transferred into local posts in 2025
7,482
New members recruited by Gold Brigade, Silver Brigade and Bronze Brigade award recipients in 2025
LEGION RIDERS
Top 2025 Legacy Run donations
• Department of Maryland Gold Star Legacy Run, $241,000
• South Carolina Legion Riders, $83,969
• Department of Virginia Legacy Run, $54,000
• Texas Legion Riders and Legion Family, $47,177
• Department of California Legion Family, $43,392
• Department of Missouri, $38,495
“The Legacy Run is much more than a once-a-year event. It serves as a catalyst for fundraising in the American Legion Riders community all year long in our departments. And that provides us with a unifying cause to grab onto as a group and to believe in and ride for. And we believe in the Veterans & Children Foundation.”
American Legion Riders Immediate Past National Chairman Mark Clark
The American Legion Riders again delivered in a major way in 2025, including raising more than $986,000 for the Veterans & Children Foundation (VCF). The VCF provides grants to Legionnaires and active-duty military personnel facing financial uncertainty and with minor children in the home, as well as funding the Legion’s veteran service officer training. The 2025 Legacy Run covered 815 miles, starting in Virginia and moving through North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia before arriving just outside Tampa, the site of the 106th American Legion National Convention.
Early in 2026, the National Flag Foundation accepted the Riders’ offer to personally escort the U.S. flag from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., on July 4 as the nation celebrates its semiquincentennial birthday; approximately 250 Riders will provide the escort for Sojourn 250.
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
Among the most prominent American Legion media platforms, the award-winning Tango Alpha Lima podcast concluded its sixth season at the end of 2025. In addition to the weekly episodes featuring dozens of interesting guests:
• Podcast co-hosts Adam Marr and Joe Worley took the show on the road to the ArmyNavy Game. On Media Row the day before the game, they conducted interviews with Naval Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, Team RWB Executive Director Michael “Sully” Sullivan, Miss America Cassie Donegan and others.
• In the fall, Tango Alpha Lima gravitated to Spotify to take advantage of the player’s video distribution, leading to a gradual increase in the number of audience members who watch or listen to the video version of the podcast.
More than 300 episodes are available to listen to or watch. Download episodes and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast-hosting sites. A video version is available at the Legion’s YouTube channel. legion.org/tangoalphalima
205,977
Followers, as of mid-May 2026, of the American Legion National Headquarters Facebook page
48,723
Followers of the Legion’s Instagram page
122,977
Followers of the Legion’s X account
58,270
Followers of the Legion’s LinkedIn account
“I knew how difficult it would be. No photographs. No newsreels. It was proportionally as bad as our Civil War.”
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, speaking on the Tango Alpha Lima podcast about his PBS series “The American Revolution,” which debuted in November
YOUTH PROGRAMS
1,890
American Legion Legacy Scholarships awarded since 2004 $9,670,565
American Legion Legacy Scholarship funds awarded since 2004
14,047
American Legion Boys State participants in 2025
9,370
American Legion Oratorical Contest participants at the post level in 2025
“This scholarship is special because it helps honor my dad and his service and sacrifices he’s made. It’s awesome that I’m able to represent him going forward through this scholarship. I want to say thank you to The American Legion. I really am appreciative of this opportunity and the support, and the belief that I can go on and do good things.”
Colton Clay, a Legacy Scholarship recipient from Colorado Springs, Colo.
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship helps children of post-9/11 veterans achieve higher education in honor of a parent’s service and sacrifice. In 2025, the Legion awarded more than $1.7 million in Legacy Scholarships to 559 children of veterans who died on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, or post-9/11 veterans with a combined VA disability rating of 50% or higher – a record amount for both in the scholarship’s 21-year history.
In total, the Legion awarded more than $2.3 million in academic scholarships on the national level to 760 youth program and scholarship participants.
For the second straight year, two Americanism programs saw participation growth: Boys State and the Oratorical Contest. In 2025, Boys State participation grew by 662 rising high school seniors, and the Oratorical Contest by 2,935 orators at the post level.
AMERICANISM
In 2025, The American Legion’s National Executive Committee reaffirmed – and refreshed – the language articulating the organization’s Americanism pillar.
Resolution 30 updates the definition of Americanism for the first time in 63 years, calling it “more than a concept” and “a living force embodied in the devotion of citizens who cherish freedom, embrace responsibility and strive to build a more perfect union.”
This devotion is marked by:
• Loyalty to the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law as the foundation of U.S. democracy, individual liberty and justice
• Reverence for sacrifice, as demonstrated by veterans and citizens who have put duty, honor and country above self, even at the cost of their lives
• Commitment to democratic principles, including the sanctity of free and fair elections, individual rights and accountable governance
• Patriotic citizenship, demonstrated through civic responsibility, public service, and deep respect for symbols and institutions that define American identity
• Respect for God and country and all Americans, grounded in liberty, equality and justice for all, regardless of race, religion, creed, gender or cultural background
• Recognition of national unity, embracing the belief that our nation’s strength flows from mutual respect, shared sacrifice and the unbreakable bonds of freedom
“ ... ‘Americanism’ is hereby defined as a steadfast and heartfelt devotion to the founding principles, enduring values and civic responsibilities of the United States of America, a devotion inspired and exemplified by those who have honorably served in uniform ....”
Resolution 30, approved by the Legion’s NEC in October 2025
1,350
Get Out the Vote activities conducted by local posts in 2024-2025
2,547
Scouting units chartered by the American Legion Family nationwide
22 Legion departments with Youth Cadet Law Enforcement programs
4,394 Flag Day activities conducted by local posts in 2024-2025
HONOR & REMEMBRANCE
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t be any happier. It’s been a whirlwind, but I have enjoyed every minute.”
Royce Williams, oldest recipient of the Medal of Honor
In February, retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams, 100, received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions Nov. 18, 1952, in the skies over the Sea of Japan, where he shot down four Russian MiGs during a 35-minute dogfight – an aerial feat never achieved previously or since. In November 2017, an American Legion Magazine story was the first to report Williams’ achievement after he was sworn to secrecy for more than a half-century. Because so much time had passed, it took extraordinary measures to award the nation’s highest military decoration to Williams, a member of San Dieguito Post 416 in Encinitas, Calif. Led by Steven Lewandowski, also of Post 416, Legionnaires fought for years to see Williams recognized. Their efforts led to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026 removing time limits that had prevented the honor.
26,761
Days elapsed between Williams’ actions and his receiving the Medal of Honor
U.S. Navy photo by Javier Orona
DIGITAL ARCHIVES
WHOLE CHILD
After computerizing many processes at American Legion National Headquarters in the 2000s, the next step was to digitize nearly a century’s worth of Legion records, photos, publications and more. When the Digital Archive (archive.legion. org) launched in 2012, it included 10 years’ worth of National Executive Committee resolutions, five years of meeting digests, three years of press releases, four years of the Dispatch newspaper for post and department leaders, and five years of Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Bulletins. It now includes full-text, downloadable versions of:
• All active resolutions
• More than 1,500 issues of The American Legion Weekly/Monthly/Magazine (1919-2022)
• More than 450 meeting proceedings
• More than 1,100 news releases
• More than 2,000 newspapers, newsletters and bulletins
• Catalogs, speeches, testimonies, pamphlets and more
The first targets for digitization were materials commonly accessed by researchers visiting National Headquarters, particularly meeting digests. Another focus was the organization’s history, through news releases and newsletters. Images stored by the library and museum are regularly digitized for marketing, media and communications purposes. Other categories of material, such as 16mm films and audio recordings, were primarily digitized for preservation and are not publicly available on the Digital Archive.
8,680
Total items in Digital Archive collection as of mid-March 2026
1,494
Current active American Legion resolutions, some dating to 1919
FUND DEVELOPMENT
In 2025, the American Legion Office of Fund Development released “Your Guide to Gift Planning,” a downloadable document that walks readers through the different types of charitable giving – annual, major, planned and blended – and explains how donating to the organization can help them achieve personal, financial and philanthropic goals. Also available is “Planning Your Legacy,” for the convenient recording of family information and estate-distribution plans.
The American Legion uses financial gifts to help support its programs, services and advocacy, from youth scholarships to service officer training and testimony before Congress. Gifts may be given during a person’s lifetime, deferred through their estate or both. Visit legion.giftlegacy.com to learn more.
544
Members of the 1919 Society, a network of proud donors who believe in The American Legion’s sacred commitment to veterans, military service, young people, responsible citizenship and patriotic values
“I’ve been fascinated by the 1919 Society and the Veterans & Children Foundation, and all that goes into it. We wanted to do a barbecue competition, and I figured this would be the perfect way to get money and donate it to the foundation from the post, and get the community involved.”
Stanley Moore, commander of Robert V. McMaugh Memorial Post 10 in Manassas, Va., which held its first BBQ Showdown in April 2025 to raise money for American Legion Charities
Giving options
• Bequests
• Business interests
• Cash
• Insurance
• Mineral interests
• Retirement assets
• Stocks and bonds
• Beneficiary designation
• Wills
• Charitable remainder annuity trust
• Charitable remainder unitrust
• Sale and unitrust
• Give it Twice trust
MEASURES
The American Legion’s efforts count. They can be quantified in numbers of veterans assisted, grants and scholarships awarded, economic impact produced and more. Operation Metrics is a national staff initiative to put consistent numbers behind the organization’s work at the local, state and national levels.
$20.8 million+
Economic impact of the 106th American Legion National Convention for the City of Tampa, Fla.
3,347
Local jobs supporting by the Tampa convention
$6,448,312.26
Emergency aid delivered to veterans from local American Legion post funds, according to the 2024-2025 national Consolidated Post Report
107,175 Units collected (2024-2025) from 62,997 people through the Blood Donor Program
OF SUCCESS
18
Navy sailors who received needed supplies, gift cards and support from the American Legion Family of Tidewater Post 327 in Norfolk, Va., in March after they were evacuated from Bahrain due to the war with Iran
380
Local posts that participated in citizenship/naturalization activities in 2024-2025
6,720
American Legion ROTC medals presented by local posts
6,546,931.18
Community service hours recorded by local posts
1,733
Posts with American Legion Riders chapters
American Legion National Contacts
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation (202) 263-5759 va&r@legion.org
Veterans Employment & Education (202) 861-2700 ve&e@legion.org
Legislative (202) 861-2700 legislative@legion.org
National Security (202) 263-5750 ns@legion.org
Americanism (317) 630-1203 americanism@legion.org
Membership (317) 630-1327 membership@legion.org
Internal Affairs (317) 630-1327 ia@legion.org
Finance (317) 630-1200 finance@legion.org
Convention & Meetings (317) 630-1313 convention@legion.org
Media & Communications (317) 630-1298 magazine@legion.org
Marketing (317) 630-1398 marketing@legion.org
American Legion Riders (317) 630-1372 legionriders@legion.org
Emblem Sales (888) 453-4466 emblem@legion.org
Sons of The American Legion (317) 630-1205 sal@legion.org
American Legion Auxiliary (317) 569-4500 alahq@alaforveterans.org
P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 (317)630-1200
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