American Legion 100
March 15, 2019
Today, March 15, marks the 100th anniversary of the first meeting of the American Legion in Paris, France, in 1919. The American Legion is the largest veterans’ organization in the United States. Its creation in Paris came in the months following World War I (1914-1918). During the war, large numbers of U.S. troops served in Europe. A group of U.S. military officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., the son of President Theodore Roosevelt, created the organization as a way to organize and help the many soldiers leaving military service.
![First organizational meeting of the American Legion in Paris, France. Caucus was held March 15,16,17 1919 and convened by members of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). Writing in pencil on back of the photo reads, "Spring 1919 Cirque de Paris First [illegible] Legion Convention 3-day organization meeting." Credit: Harry S. Truman Library & Museum](https://bth.worldbook.com/bth/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/pc381715.jpg)
United States soldiers attend the first meeting of the American Legion on March 15, 1919, in Paris, France. Credit: Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
In January 1919, Lt. Colonel Roosevelt met with other officers following the death of his father, the former president, on January 6. During this meeting, they discussed the problems veterans might face after returning to the United States. Many soldiers would have trouble adjusting to civilian life, finding work, or dealing with the physical and mental scars of the war. Veterans’ organizations had existed previously, but none was adequate to handle the large numbers—2 million soldiers—demobilizing (leaving the military) in 1919. The officers met again in February to plan the first organizational meeting in March, which was attended by some 1,000 people. At that meeting, the organization adopted a temporary constitution and the name the American Legion.
The first meeting of the American Legion took place 100 years ago on March 15, 1919. Credit: © The American Legion
The U.S. Congress granted the American Legion a national charter in September 1919, and the group’s first national convention took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in November. All men who had served in the military during wartime were eligible to join the Legion. Also in 1919, an American Legion Auxiliary was created for women veterans and the families of soldiers killed in combat.
Today, men and women may join the American Legion if they are current members of the U.S. armed forces, or have served during a number of war eras specified by the organization and been honorably discharged. The American Legion has about 2 million members and thousands of local posts throughout the United States.
