LEGION Act

Blake Hyfield

Recently, President Trump signed into law the LEGION Act, which changes the American Legion’s eligibility criteria from seven war eras to just two: April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941 to a time later determined by the federal government. No other restrictions to American Legion membership changed. 

The previous gaps in the war era were largely during the Cold War, a time when threats to U.S. national security was real, especially to the men and women serving in uniform. During that time, estimates show that about 1,600 U.S. servicemembers were killed or wounded in hostile operations.

This new act also gives approximately six million veterans access to American Legion programs and benefits – things they were not eligible for in the past. The American Legion’s founding fathers believed, “A veteran is a veteran,” an axiom that has held true throughout the organization’s more than century of service. It does not matter whether a veteran fought enemies on foreign soil, protected our interests in an ocean far away or secured our national defense here at home. Their service is what matters most. Some veterans were ineligible to join because of the war eras that were defined by Congress. The recent bill passage and the President’s signature changed all that. 

  “The passage of the LEGION Act is a victory for veterans who until now have not had their service to our nation fully recognized,” American Legion National Commander Brett Reistad said. “These veterans and their family members can now enjoy all the benefits of their service which they so richly deserve.” 

“The American Legion appreciates the support our representatives have shown the veterans who were previously caught in the gaps,” Reistad added. “This also underscores the passion American Legion family members have for our nation’s veterans. Their grass-roots advocacy for this bill has been inspiring.”

Their efforts fulfill Resolution No. 1, passed unanimously by the Legion’s National Executive Committee last October in Indianapolis. On Feb. 14, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., introduced the LEGION Act, along with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. Reps. Lou Correa, D-Calif., and Ben Cline, R-Va., introduced a similar measure in the House.

As such, those veterans are now eligible to join the American Legion either on a national basis by contacting the American Legion online or locally join any American Legion Post. In La Crescenta, American Legion Post 288 is located at 4011 La Crescenta Ave. and meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. 

For more information, give us a call at (818) 541-1336.

Blake Hyfield is the post service officer for the local VFW and American Legion posts. He can be reached at bhpegleg@yahoo.com.