American legion history – American Legion Gladstone 626

To Strengthen a Nation: The American Legion Story, hosted by Air Force veteran Lorna Duyn and Army veteran Jeric Wilhelmsen, connects the dots between legacy and vision of the nation’s largest veterans service organization in honor of its 2019 centennial. In the Prelude episode, the veterans, both members of Hollywood, Calif., American Legion Post 43, begin their cross-country journey to discover the origins and reasons behind services and programs they now fulfill as Legionnaires.

To strengthen a nation

Our hosts explore the 1919 gatherings of war-weary troops in France who planted the seed that would grow to more than 684,000 members operating in posts nationwide by the first anniversary of the Great War’s end. This episode explains why founding leader Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., declined nomination to serve as first national leader of The American Legion, the reasons the organization was firm in its conviction to remain non-partisan, open to all who honorably served and guided by a constitutional preamble that endures as a statement of purpose today.

to strengthen a nation

Our hosts, Jeric and Lorna, explore the American Legion’s legacy of support for veterans. The founders battled for better compensation for 100 percent combat-disabled veterans, the GI Bill of Rights, recognition of Agent Orange as the source of service-connected illnesses and the fight for fair and compassionate treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

TO STRENGTHEN A NATION

This episode of The American Legion’s centennial video series explores the ways the organization has helped veterans find jobs, start businesses and make successful transitions to civilian life.

TO STRENGTHEN A NATION

egionnaire hosts Lorna Duyn and Jeric Wilhelmsen explore the organization’s legacy of support for a strong defense and members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

TO STRENGTHEN A NATION

Our hosts, Jeric and Lorna, travel to Milbank, S.D. to learn the origin story of American Legion Baseball and explore how the organization has promoted citizenship through sportsmanship throughout the past century.

to strengthen a nation

In Episode 6 of “To Strengthen a Nation,” a video series on the history of The American Legion, hosts Lorna Duyn and Jeric Wilhelmsen explore the original reasons the organization made “Americanism” a pillar value. Responsible U.S. citizenship, respect for the flag, constitutional understanding, voter participation, support for law and order and a number of youth programs arose from a founding interest to ensure that Americans not only had the resources and training to defend the country, but also understood the reasons why.

TO STRENGTHEN A NATION

This episode of The American Legion’s centennial series traces the roots of the organization’s role to improve the lives of young people, from the early 1920s to today.

to strengthen a nation

Throughout its history, The American Legion has put military training to use during disasters ranging from floods, to terrorist attacks to a global pandemic. “To Strengthen a Nation” hosts Jeric Wilhelmsen and Lorna Duyn explore the many ways The American Legion has responded to emergencies over the decades.

TO STRENGTHEN A NATION

Episode 9 of “To Strengthen a Nation” explores the roots and evolution of The American Legion’s role in service to local communities throughout the last century, a role that continues through “individual obligation to community, state and nation.”

to strengthen a nation

In the 10th episode of “To Strengthen a Nation: The American Legion Story,” hosts Lorna Duyn and Jeric Wilhelmsen examine the ways in which the organization has paid tribute to our nation’s fallen, from overseas cemetery flags to national memorials and local honor guards, “to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars.”

TO STRENGTHEN A NATION

Hosts Lorna Duyn and Jeric Wilhelmsen chronicle the origins of The American Legion Auxiliary, The Sons of American Legion and The American Legion Riders. They show how the organization that started in 1919 grew to become The American Legion Family

to strengthen a nation

The final installment of The American Legion’s historical video series returns hosts Jeric Wilhelmsen and Lorna Duyn to Hollywood Post 43, where they reflect on all they’ve discovered, inspired for a second century of veterans strengthening America.

Every part of The American Legion Emblem has a different meaning that collectively state the founding purposes of the nation’s largest organization of wartime veterans.