From Military.com:
“New Law Will Allow Thousands
More Veterans to Join American Legion “
Thousands of honorably discharged
veterans will soon be able to join the American Legion under new legislation
expected to be signed soon by President Donald Trump. Under the new law, any
honorably discharged veteran who has served since Dec. 7, 1941, may join the
American Legion, meaning military veterans who served in what were previously
considered periods of peacetime between wars are now eligible for membership. The
Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service, or LEGION, Act
-- the first Senate bill sponsored by Arizona Democrat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to
become law -- is designed to recognize veterans who previously couldn't join,
such as those who served during the Cold War. "Expanding Legion membership
improves services for veterans across Arizona and honors our brave service
members killed or injured during periods of unrecognized war," Sinema said
in a statement. "Our bill shows what's possible when we stay focused on
getting things done that matter." As a congressionally chartered
organization, eligibility for the country's largest veterans service
organization, with nearly two million members, is established by Congress. It
had been open to veterans who served during declared wars, such as World War
II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Prior to this bill, there were seven recognized
eligibility periods, beginning with World War I and concluding with the current
period, from Aug. 2, 1990, to the present. But many troops served in lesser
conflicts between those periods, Sinema said in the bill. More than 1,600
troops were killed during these military operations. "In between those
recognized periods of war, during so-called peacetime eras, the United States
military has been involved in not fewer than 12 known eras, which are
unrecognized by the United States Government as periods of war, resulting in
numerous United States personnel combat casualties," the bill states. In a
statement, the bill's co-sponsors hailed the expanded eligibility window. "For
100 years, the American Legion has provided critical resources and created a
community for veterans. This legislation will ensure that everyone who puts on
the uniform has the privilege to join the Legion's ranks," said Rep. Lou
Correa, D-California, who co-sponsored the House version along with Reps. Ben
Cline, R-Virginia, and Gil Cisneros, D-California. Membership in traditional
veterans service organizations has declined over the past several decades as
members age and pass away and veterans of recent conflicts have sought out
other groups or social organizations. This year, however, the Veterans of
Foreign Wars reversed that trend, adding nearly 25,000 new members, according
to VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. And the changes to the American
Legion's eligibility may bolster its ranks as well. "Opening membership of
the American Legion to our heroes who have served in conflicts from Vietnam to
Iraq and Afghanistan is the right thing to do," Cline said. Veterans
service organizations provide a social structure for veterans and also advocate
on their behalf. Groups such as the VFW, American Legion and Disabled American
Veterans are among the most influential in Washington, D.C., with members
numbering in the millions. They also provide help to veterans, with service
officers trained to provide guidance to members on their benefits, including
disability compensation claims and education. The American Legion has been
working for more than a year to expand its eligibility dates. National
Commander Brett Reistad said the Legion Act is "a victory for veterans who
until now have not had their service to our nation fully recognized." "These
veterans and their family members can now enjoy all the benefits of their
service, which they so richly deserve," he said. The White House has not
said when the president plans to sign the bill into law. Veterans seeking more
information on how to join the American Legion can find it on the
organization's web site.
^ I have heard of the American
Legion, but didn’t realize there were Federal restrictions on who could and
could not join. I assumed that you just had to be a veteran. After learning
more about this organization I hope this law passes so all veterans can finally
join if they want to. ^
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