The American Legion Celebrates its 95th Birthday Saturday March 15th, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The American Legion Celebrates its 95th Birthday Saturday March 15th, 2014

LANSING (MARCH 7, 2014) – American Legion Posts throughout Michigan will be celebrating the 95th birthday of The American Legion on Saturday March 15th, 2014. 

The Paris Caucus was held on March 15-17th, 1919; the heading in the paper “Veterans of A.E.F. In Liberty League”. The “Conference on Organization…In Paris Beginning the 15th of March, 1919” .

In January 1919, four officers Teddy Roosevelt, Jr., George S. White, Eric Fisher Wood, and William J. Donovan, discussed that other wars had spawned associations of veterans, for example the Grand Army of the Republic and the Spanish-American War Veterans.  Was the “Great War” to have one? How would it be organized? What would be our purpose and principles?

From that initial meeting the Paris Caucus was organized, which established temporary committees to begin the process of organization.  Those committees would meet again in May of 1919 back in the United States and so The American Legion began.

95 years ago The American Legion was found on four pillars; Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, Child & Youth, National Security, and Americanism.  Supporting the ideals and the Boys Scout organization was a part of our founding and since then The American Legion supports 23 different programs for the veterans and youth of America.  They include Boys State and Boys Nation, American Legion Baseball, the Oratorical Contest and many other programs that support the 4 pillars of our founding. The American Legion, Department of Michigan and its over 400 Posts continue to support our veterans, their families, our local communities, and the youth of this great State of Michigan.  Our 86,000 members volunteer, raise money, and keep with the intent of our basic premise, “veterans serving veterans”. 

To learn more about The American Legion, Department of Michigan and how to become a member visit www.michiganlegion.org or call (517) 371-4720 ext 16.

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Mark Sutton, Public Relations Director, (517) 371-4720 ext 16 mark@michiganlegion.org

The American Legion Department of Michigan represents over 70,000 members in the State of Michigan. The American Legion was founded in 1919, based on “The Four Pillars”; veteran rehabilitation, Americanism, child welfare, and national security and continued above all its mission as a consumers’ advocate for veterans. For more information contact the Michigan Legion at 517-371-4720 ext 16, mark@michiganlegion.org, or visit our website at www.michiganlegion.org.

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