American Legion

The American Legion, "the world's largest veteran organization," was founded in March 1919 in Paris "at the first caucus by members of the American Expeditionary Force." On May 9, 1919, a "Caucus meeting in St. Louis adopts The American Legion as the organization's official name." At the same meeting, "The Legion's draft constitution is approved, and so is its preamble, which begins: 'For God and Country, we associate ourselves together. . .' The preamble, with its heartfelt dedication to freedom and democracy, is still recited today at official gatherings of The American Legion." 

Amending the US Constitution to outlaw flag desecration
The American Legion is probably the largest single financial supporter of the Citizens Flag Alliance and its goal of changing the constitution to outlaw flag desecration. The Burson-Marsteller firm has in the past managed this issue according to John Stauber of the Center for Media and Democracy, based on documents contained in the Center's files.

Contact
URL: http://www.legion.org/

Related SourceWatch articles

 * band of brothers
 * Bring Them Home Now!
 * Citizens Flag Alliance
 * Department of Veterans Affairs
 * Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
 * draft
 * Iraq Coalition Casualty Statistics
 * Mark Seavey
 * Operation Enduring Freedom
 * Operation Iraqi Freedom
 * Operation Iraqi Freedom: Beginnings of a Quagmire
 * Selective Service System
 * veterans benefits
 * Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
 * Vets for Freedom

External articles

 * "'Boston Globe': Head of American Legion Lies About Being Vietnam Veteran," Associated Press (Boston Globe/Editor & Publisher), December 3, 2006: "Paul A. Morin, who was elected Aug. 31 to a one-year term as commander of the nation's largest veterans organization, spent his time in the Army from 1972 to 1974 at Fort Dix, N.J., The Boston Sunday Globe reported."
 * Kristinn, "D.C. Chapter Invited to Meet President Bush at White House Troop Support Event (Photos)," FreeRepublic.com, September 18, 2007. "Members of the D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com were invited to the White House today for an event for troop support organizations with President Bush. Other groups included Vets for Freedom (in the beige polo shirts), Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission (in the red polos shirts), Move America Forward, Gathering of Eagles, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars."
 * B Merryfield, "Freedom's Watch backs Vets for Freedom," The Daily Kos, October 2, 2007.