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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.
Who We Are
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. 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.
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 financial problems.
The American Legion is the largest identifiable Blood Donor organization in America and in Maryland, the largest sponsor and supporter of Boy and Girl Scout Troops in America and in Maryland and our scholarship donations to deserving college 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.
Maryland American Legion Youth Programs include: (1) Boys and Girls State Programs which consist of a one-week concentrated study of the U. S. Constitution and an intense interactive learning experience pertaining to the legislative process and operations of local, state and national governmental entities; (2) American Legion Baseball; (3) American Legion Oratorical Contests, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and college scholarship awards.
"Get Out The Vote" has been a major program at all levels 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.
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.
Sons of the American Legion
The Sons of The American Legion is divided into detachments at the state level and squadrons at the local level. A squadron pairs with a local American Legion post; a squadron’s charter is contingent upon its parent post’s charter. However, squadrons can determine the extent of their services to the community, state, and nation. They are permitted flexibility in planning programs and activities to meet their needs, but must remember SAL’s mission: to strengthen the four pillars of The American Legion. Therefore, squadrons’ campaigns place an emphasis on preserving American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship.
Since 1988, SAL has raised more than $9 million for The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. SAL members have volunteered over 500,000 hours at veterans hospitals and raised over $1,000,000 for VA hospitals and VA homes. The SAL also supports the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition dedicated to protecting the U.S. flag from desecration through a constitutional amendment.
American Legion Auxiliary
Founded in 1919, The American Legion Auxiliary has nearly 1 million members from all walks of life. The Auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and to veterans, and raises millions of dollars to support its own programs, as well as other worthwhile charities familiar to Americans. It is all accomplished with volunteers.
While originally organized to assist The American Legion, the Auxiliary has achieved its own unique identity while working side-by-side with the veterans who belong to The American Legion. Like the Legion, the Auxiliary’s interests have broadened to encompass the entire community.
The American Legion Auxiliary is made up of the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Through its nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it solidly stands behind America and its ideals.
