Department of California History
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.
Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth.
A Brief History of The American Legion
To Strengthen a Nation: The American Legion Story
To Strengthen a Nation: The American Legion Story, hosted by Air Force veteran Lorna Duyn and Army veteran Jeric Wilhelmson, connects the dots between legacy and vision of the nation’s largest veterans service organization in honor of its 2019 centennial. In the Prelude episode, the veterans, both members of Hollywood, California, American Legion Post 43, begin their cross-country journey to discover the origins and reasons behind services and programs they now fulfill as Legionnaires. The Prelude burrows back to the roots of veteran organizations, from the Revolution to the Civil War, and the lessons The American Legion learned from its predecessors.
To view the “To Strengthen a Nation” series of videos, CLICK HERE
California – American Legion National Conventions
The American Legion’s largest annual meeting is the national convention. Over 100 national conventions have been held at different cities across the nation. California has hosted six of our national conventions, they are:
Convention #5 October 16-19, 1923 San Francisco, CA
Convention Program – Proceeding of Convention
Convention #20 September 19-22, 1938 Los Angeles, CA
Convention Program – Proceedings of Convention
Convention #28 September 30-October 4, 1946 San Francisco, CA
Convention Program – Proceedings of Convention
Convention #32 October 9-12, 1950 Los Angeles, CA
Convention Program – Proceedings of Convention
Convention #38 September 3-6, 1956 Los Angeles, CA
Convention Program – Proceedings of Convention
Convention #81 September 3-9, 1999 Anaheim, CA
Convention Program – Proceedings of Convention
Our national convention delegates alone have the authority to approve changes to the Legion’s constitution and bylaws. The group is also responsible for passing programs that determine the course of the Legion, setting membership dues for the upcoming year, and electing a national commander and five national vice commanders to serve until the next convention.
