--- title: "Do you know the history of the American Legion?" description: "Read about the history of the American Legion and learn how it got its start helping veterans on We Are the Mighty." date: "2022-09-09" modified: "2023-09-11" authors: - name: "Bethaney Phillips" job_title: "Contributor, Veteran Spouse" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/bethaneyphillips/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/american-legion/do-you-know-the-history-of-the-american-legion/" categories: - "Army" - "History" --- # Do you know the history of the American Legion? ![Paris caucus]() *First Caucus of American Legion, held in Paris, France. March 1919. Image digitized and digitally edited by Tim Davenport for Wikipedia, no copyright claimed, released to the public domain without restriction.* Since 1919, the American Legion has been a mainstay for the U.S. military and its former members. No, it’s not just bars, the organization works as a nonprofit force for veterans of U.S. wars, providing resources that are meant to better veterans and their families, including help with [Veterans Affairs]() hospitals and clinics, and promoting interests of veterans, their pensions and healthcare needs. Their biggest claim to fame is leading the G.I. Bill to fruition. The American Legion is credited with “playing the leading role in the drafting and passing of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act.” This took place in 1944 and is better known today as the G.I. Bill. ![American Legion headquarters]() *American Legion headquarters, Indianapolis, USA* ## How the American Legion got their start The American Legion, AKA the Legion, began on March 15th, 1919 in Paris, France. A group of 1,000 U.S. officers were stationed overseas and held a meeting while stationed on the Western Front during World War I. The meeting gathered a group of delegates for their organization, as well as a constitution. Another meeting was held of stateside members in St. Louis, MO in May of that same year. Both meetings created a set of committees, with two original chapters. However, the Legion agreed on New York as its original headquarters. Today, the group calls Indianapolis, Indiana, its home. Original requirements for joining were extremely specific, with the group wanting to include veterans who had seen wartime. In order to join, veterans had to have served between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918. With World War II (and subsequent wars) it was expanded to those serving after December 7, 1941. All members must have served honorably, and Merchant Marines who served in WWII can also join. ## Notable American Legion founding members Of the founding members, by-far the most recognizable name is Theodore Roosevelt Jr., son of the former president of the same name. Roosevelt Jr. served as a Lieutenant Colonel within the First Division AKA Big Red One. His distant cousin, [President Franklin Roosevelt]() would later sign the G.I. Bill into law in 1944. Other notable names include: - Colonel Henry D. Lindsley, who served as mayor of Dallas before his time in the war. - Luke Lea, former senator of Tennessee and publisher of The Tennessean - William J. “Bill” Donovan, founding father of the CIA - Robert Bacon, former Secretary of State - Brigade General Charles H. Cole, commissioner of the Boston Police and Fire Departments - Colonel Bennett “Champ” Clark, Senator of Missouri and U.S. Circuit Judge In years since, notable members have included 10 U.S. presidents, and Academy Award winning actors Clark Gable and [Humphrey Bogart](). ![Black and white portrait of a man with neatly combed dark hair and a thin mustache, wearing a suit jacket, white shirt, and striped tie, smiling slightly while seated.]() *Clark Gable (Public domain)* ## Today's American Legion Members of the American Legion, known as Legionnaires, consist of veterans of all ages. With nearly 2 million members, making it the country’s largest wartime veterans association, the Legion has 12,000 locations across the U.S., including posts in all 50 states, as well as stops in the District of Columbia, France, Mexico, the Philippines and Puerto Rico. ## Author Bethaney Phillips has contributed to We Are the Mighty and MilSpouseFest since 2015, covering history and military family topics. She also served as the Interim Content and Digital Manager at MilSpouseFest in 2021. Now a veteran spouse, she spent six years in an active duty family and served as an SFRG leader. With a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing, she has more than 15 years of experience in digital and print writing, focusing on researched pieces and human interest stories. She is also a regular contributor to Business Insider, covering family and parenting topics. Her work has been included on Business Insider, Yahoo, Military.com, and Manhattan Magazine. While continuing to freelance, she works as the founding editor of the Clay County Regional, a print and digital newspaper delivered to more than 5,500 recipients. She also serves as the Digital Director/News Director for Taylor Communications out of north-central Kansas. Bethaney spends her free time chasing her two elementary-aged boys, raising chickens, and reading fiction. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [WWW]()