Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion
For God and Country
We associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to
maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent
Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations
in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the
community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes
and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and
goodwill on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of
justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our
comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.  


Who We Are
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic,
mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. A community-service
organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -- men and
women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. These Posts
are organized into 55 Departments -- one each for the 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.


The American Legion's national headquarters is in Indianapolis,Indiana,
with additional offices in Washington, DC. In addition to thousands of
volunteers serving in leadership and program implementation capacities
in local communities to the Legion's standing national commissions and
committees, the national organization has a regular full-time staff of about
300 employees.
"There shines the Emblem of The American Legion, it is your badge of
distinction, honor and service. It stands for God and Country, and the
highest rights of man. Of its several parts, each has a meaning."
The American Legion Emblem   
The Wreath forms the center, in loving memory of those
brave comrades who gave their lives in the service of
the United States, that liberty might endure.
The Rays of the Sun form the background of our proud
Emblem, and suggest that the Legion's principles will
dispel the darkness of violence and evil.
The Star - victory symbol of World War I, signalizes as
well honor, glory and constancy. The letters U.S. leave
no doubt as to the brightest star in the Legion's star.
Two Large Rings the outer one stands for the
rehabilitation of our sick and disabled buddies. The inner
one denotes the welfare of America's children.
Two Small Rings set upon the star. The outer pledges
loyalty and Americanism. The inner is for service to our
communities, our states and the Nation.
The words American Legion tie the whole together for
truth, remembrance, constancy, honor, service, veterans
affairs and rehabilitation, children and youth, loyalty, and
Americanism.