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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
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HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.
of new jersey
in the house of representatives
Monday, September 9, 2019
Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial
of The American Legion, which was founded in Paris, France on March 15,
1919 by delegates from combat and service units of the American
Expeditionary Force. For those who do not know this history, the United
States Congress granted a national charter to the delegates on
September 16, 1919.
While initially The Legion was composed only of those who served
during World War I, it later admitted veterans of World War II (1942),
the Korean War (1950), the Vietnam War (1966), the Lebanon, Grenada,
and Panama hostilities (1990), Operation Desert Shield/Storm (1991),
and the wars in Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2001).
To this very day, the focus of The American Legion is on the care of
disabled and sick veterans. The American Legion has been instrumental
in establishing hospitals and other support services for veterans. The
hard work of those involved with The American Legion was influential in
the creation of the U.S. Veterans Administration in 1930 and the
enactment of the GI Bill of Rights in 1944. These two policies have
helped more than 10,500,000 veterans afford college or vocational
training programs and assisted more than 5,600,000 veterans in their
efforts to purchase homes.
The American Legion does not just help the veterans who are members.
It is an organization dedicated to charity and community. Posts across
the country donate more than 3.7 million hours of volunteer service.
Posts have also helped collect more than 80,000 pints of blood every
year for donation. This makes The American Legion the single largest
blood donor. And The Legion and its members are focused on future
generations by awarding more than 8,000 medals to Junior ROTC students
and sponsoring more than 2,500 Scouting units that serve over 64,000
young people. Finally, they have awarded more than $4 million in awards
to support individuals to go to college.
In New Jersey, The American Legion is currently led by Department
Commander Robert B. Newell. It does an extraordinary job advocating on
behalf of veterans and their families. With a membership of over 4,000,
American Legion Posts in Bergen County, New Jersey are celebrating 100
years of service with a celebration in Lodi, New Jersey on September
29. I am pleased to recognize the positive contributions and role The
American Legion serves in our community. The Legion's myriad of
contributions to the good and welfare of veterans, service members and
the community at large cannot possibly be measured. But it is important
that they continue to receive our full support.
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