The American Legion
WHO WE ARE - WHAT WE DO
WHO WE ARE:
The American Legion is a 501 (c) 19 Not for Profit, Community-Based, Non-Partisan, Patriotic, Veterans Service Organization that was Founded in March of 1919 and Chartered by the United States Congress in September of 1919.
We are comprised of some 14,000 American Legion Posts located in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, France, Mexico, the Philippines and Puerto Rico; hence, the term "Department", rather than "State", is used as a more descriptive term.
In The American Legion, Department of Maryland we have a total of 145 active American Legion Posts located within each of the 23 Counties and in Baltimore City, with a Post presence in virtually every community of the State. In both membership and number of Posts, we are by far the largest veteran's service organization in Maryland.
For more than 90 years, The American Legion had stood on four great pillars or principles: (1) Taking care of veterans and their families; (2) Supporting a strong national and domestic security posture for America and its Allies, including adequate staffing and funding for the U.S. Departments of Defense, Labor, Homeland Security, State and Veterans Affairs; (3) Educating and caring for our Children and Youth; and (4) Participating in and furthering Americanism and Patriotic Holidays, such as, but not limited to Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Armed Forces Day and Flag Day.
WHAT WE DO:
The American Legion of Maryland (posts, Squadrons, Auxiliary and Headquarters offices) contributes materially to the economic well-being of the State of Maryland by employing more than 1,300 tax-paying employees living in the state of Maryland. Our employee payroll is estimated to exceed $29,000,000 annually.
Our American Legion Family spans more than 100,000 households, the members of which live, work, purchase goods and service, pay taxes and vote in the State of Maryland ... all of which further contributes to the economic well-being within their respective communities, counties, Baltimore City, and the State of Maryland. During the past year , our Charitable Contributions to needy families, churches, and a host of other state recognized not-for profit charitable organizations exceed $4 million. In addition, our members make cash and in-kind donations to and contribute thousands of volunteer man-hours each year to many worthy charitable causes, including Special Olympics, VA Medical Centers and Clinics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Other Maryland Military Treatment Facilities and Out-Patient Clinics, Fisher Houses, Johns Hopkins Hospital's Children's Miracle Network, Maryland State Veterans Cemeteries and the Charlotte Hall Maryland State Veterans Home ... a few examples worthy of your attention follows:
• The American Legion is the largest identifiable Blood Donor organization in America and in Maryland.
• The American Legion is the largest sponsor and supporter of Boy and Girl Scout Troops in America and in Maryland.
• In Maryland, The American Legion scholarship donations to deserving college and pre-college level students ranks second to none.
• The Maryland American Legion owns, operates and maintains two Youth Camps, one on the Frederick-Washington County line and the other in Prince George's County. These camps including all facilities there at are available for one-day or longer (but not to exceed a period contrary to established rules and regulations of each camp) for use by youth groups, churches, and others on a first come-first served basis, at minimal cost.
• Many Maryland American Legion Posts are available during emergencies for use as National and Local Civil Defense Shelters, Disaster Relief and Homeland Security Training Facilities and to temporarily shelter, feed and cloth families during natural and/or man-made disasters and riots.
• Maryland American Legion Youth Programs include: (1) Boys and Girls State Programs which consist ofa one-week concentrated study of the U. S. Constitution and an intense interactive learning experience pertaining to the legislative process and operations oflocal, state and national governmental entities; (2) American Legion Baseball; (3) American Legion Oratorical Contests, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and college scholarship awards. We are leaders in every aspect of community involvement.
• Under the Legion's Worldwide Family Support Network we provide both labor and financial support to spouses and family members left behind while the military breadwinner is deployed in harms way. Typical support includes lawn maintenance (shoveling snow, mowing grass, trimming shrubbery), making minor household repairs, providing free transportation and drivers, purchasing needed clothing and food and helping with emergency fmancial problems.
"Get Out The Vote" has been a major program at all levels (National,Department/State and Post/Community) of The American Legion since our very beginning in 1919. By Congressional Charter we are non-partisan, we do not endorse, raise money for or give preference to any person seeking public office; however, we do strongly lobby elected officials, at all levels (city, county, state and national), to support and vote for a wide range of LEGISLATIVE ISSUES germane to the Aims and Purposes for which The American Legion was founded. Because of the current and projected economic downturn facing Maryland and our nation, it is imperative that the Legislature and the Governor support and continue the Sales Tax Exemption for Non-Profit Organizations, and to Add an Additional $5,000.00 in Tax Reductions for all Military Retiree Residents.With many new BRAC Defense Jobs coming to Maryland, we strongly urge the State's Business Community, the Legislature and the Governor to do everything possible to Gainfully Employ our State's growing population of Qualified Military Retirees and Veterans - This is the least the State can do to show its appreciation to those that have served in harms way to protect and preserve our hard-earned Freedom.
ANALYSIS OF MARYLAND'S VETERAN POPULATION
(Source: u.s. Department of Veterans Affairs - as of9/3012011)
Total: 465,700 Wartime: 339,500 Peacetime: 126,200
World War II: 28,500 Korean Conflict: 38,600 Vietnam Era: 147,100
Gulf War: 142,200 Male: 416,200 Female: 49,600
WAR ON TERRIORISTS
(Source: u.s. Department of Defense as of 12 December 2011)
Killed - 11 SEPTEMBER 2001
World Trade Center 2,977 (excludes 19 hijackers)
Pentagon 125 + 64 Airline Passengers; Shanksville, PA 59
IRAQ
Killed in Action 3,518; Non-Hostile 956; Wounded in Action 32,226
AFGHANISTAN Killed in Action 1,556; Non-Hostile 292; Wounded in Action 1,630
OTHER
(Approximate Number as of 20 October 2011)
U.s. Homeless Veterans 67,495
Percentage of Unemployed Veterans in Maryland and the U.S. Overall Exceeds
Non-Veteran Unemployment Rates in Almost Every Age Category