The American Legion, the largest veterans’ service organization with 2 million members, plays a crucial role in community strengthening across the United States.
Originating in 1919 in Paris after World War I, the American Legion was founded by U.S. military officers led by Theodore Roosevelt Jr., a prominent figure and son of the former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt Jr., despite his privileged background, volunteered alongside his brother to lead American troops in France during World War I. Before the U.S. entered the war, he had initiated a precursor to the American Legion in New York in 1915. Roosevelt Jr. later played a significant role in World War II, landing on Normandy’s beaches on D-Day in 1944 and earning the nation’s highest honor for heroism.
The American Legion, with its posts in every corner of the USA but also all around the world, emphasizes the importance of veterans continuing to volunteer and contribute to the nation after their service.
