ing the cause of patriotism, it developed educational programs, which sought to promote good citizenship. Legion social and athletic programs for youth had a goal of helping children to realize their full potential. A legislative division worked to make certain the Legion’s voice was heard in Washington. And through its nearly 15,000 local chapters worldwide, the Legion has worked to build and strengthen a sense of community through child welfare programs, educational scholarships, blood drives, crime prevention projects and other such initiatives. Perhaps most important to veterans, however, are the special benefits which the American Legion has been able to provide its membership.Ranging from health, financial and employment services to member discounts for travel, moving, insurance and even Internet usage, today’s American Legionbenefits America’s war veterans in countless ways, including opportunities for social activity and camaraderie at its local chapters. As such, it is understandable that non-wartime veterans might feel the pain of exclusion. A Policy Framed By HopeIt is an unhappy fact that policies and legislation often outlive their usefulness. Within the archives of most every state and municipality are enactments dating from the 19th century and even earlier which, when brought to light by some enterprising news hound or researcher, cause people to ask why such laws had not been updated years before. Most often, the response has been simply that nobody saw a need to do so. In much the same way, some would point out that the American Legion’s membership policies are equally archaic and long overdue for revision.In adopting legislation that was to establish the American Legion and limit its membership to those Americans who had served honorably in World War I, Congress believed the job was done: In their minds, that horrific conflict had truly been a war to end all wars; there would be n...
