As it stands now, students returning home after completing their freshman year in college are eligible to play Legion Baseball. But come 2015, that will all change - American Legion Baseball will become a junior-high and high-school age program.
Participants in all other American Legion youth programs, such as Boys State/Boys Nation, Shooting Sports and the Oratorical Contest, are limited to those attending high school. Thus, in effort to create uniformity amongst Legion youth programs, the National Executive Committee of The American Legion passed Resolution 46, restricting Legion Baseball player eligibility to junior high and high school students.
As foreseen by the NEC, the restriction will allow more high school athletes the opportunity to play Legion ball, because it will free up the limited number of places on team rosters, which are currently held by college-eligible players. The restriction to high school students will also help increase college coaches and scouts attendance at games and interest in players, allowing the young men a chance to display their skills and talents.
The American Legion is sponsoring a College Fair to help shrink the costs of college for students and their families. This college fair is unique because it’s hosted by veterans. The men and women who have served our country by protecting our freedoms is now working to help the young men and women of our state attend college.
Click Here for the informative flyer
The American Legion presented over $5 Million in awards in 2009 around the country.
The American Legion invites you and your family to Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Oakland, Allegheny County on November 15, 2010 for scholarship opportunities.
These scholarship opportunities include:
- Regional and local presented by veterans organizations
- Government programs like ROTC (Army, Navy and Air Force), the 5 Military Academies, the GI Bill, USAR and the National Guard
-
Contests including written, spoken and participated in (including Legion Baseball, Scouting, Boys and Girls State, Essay and Speech Contests)
There is money out there, let us help you find it.
We are leaders!
More information coming soon - check back!!
This fall, members of your Post, Unit Squadron or Chapter can take one day and learn about the many different programs and projects concerning the Pennsylvania American Legion. For a $15 registration fee, “students” choose one of eight courses, which will be filled on a first come first served basis.
The General Course provides information on all Department programs, activities and more.
The Adjutant Course is a 1/2 day course which covers membership, various forms as well as other information. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course.
The Auxiliary Course is an all day class that covers issues pertaining to the Pennsylvania American Legion Auxiliary.
There will also be a 1/2 day SAL Course. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course
The Service Officer Course is an all day class that will give insight on filing claims and assisting veterans in need.
The Home Association Course is an all day class that will educate attendees on bookkeeping, IRS forms, small games of chance and the Home Association’s relationship to the Post.
Another class is the Legion Riders Course for the entire day. This will inform the students about the different aspects of the Legion Riders.
The final program is the Chaplain Course for those who are or may want to become a Chaplain and will explain your obligations and duties within your Post as the Chaplain. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course.
For your convenience Department offers tow “colleges”. Choose to attend October 30, 2010 at Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg, PA) or November 6, 2010 at the Latrobe High School in Latrobe PA. Opening program begins at 8:30 am with all classes starting at 9:00 am.
Registration fee includes course material, a full course lunch and a Legion College pin.
Both facilities are non smoking.
Click Here for the Legion College application
View a video of the 2009/2010 year in review.
The 2010 Department Convention held at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel was a great success. View the great pictures below.
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring and sponsorship of youth programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.
In contrast to other veterans organizations, the Legion offers a number of local programs and activities to strengthen its commitment to our nation’s grass roots and the people we serve. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs; it continues to educate youths on the importance of sportsmanship and develops the quality of our country’s citizenship. The Heroes to Hometowns program is the only nationwide reintegration assistance service for wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, millions of dollars in donations have been given to fellow veterans and their families in times of grief, and various scholarship opportunities ensure the future success of our youth.
The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvements in the legislation process. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to their community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands not behind politics, but the issues and people that institute progress by focusing on veterans rights and quality of life.
The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.
The Four Pillars of The American Legion Booklet (PDF)
Need a Lift? To educational opportunities, scholarships, grants, student loans, careers and employment.
The American Legion publishes a comprehensive roundup of educational opportunities – including state and federal education benefits for veterans – in a booklet titled “Need a Lift?” Nearly 30,000 copies are distributed to educational institutions each year. It contains up-to-date information on:
- The basics of higher-education funding
- A listing of federal education benefits and programs, including loans, grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, tax benefits and educational IRAs
- A listing of state education benefits and programs
- Scholarships, grants and loans administered or supported by The American Legion
- Military resources
- Private funding sources
- An index of books and e-newsletters on education benefits
- Basic information on four-year colleges around the United States
- Contact information
The American Legion is again competing for $250,000 for the Legacy Scholarship Fund in July. Additionally, we are entered for August on behalf of job fairs, in which we are quite active. Let’s make it a point to let our “address books” know that we need them to vote every day for the next two months in order to win $500,000 for American Legion Charities. Go to www.legion.org and click on the Pepsi Refresh icon.
Portion of proceeds will benefit Legion programs
INDIANAPOLIS (June 9, 2010) – A new documentary detailing the 91-year history of The American Legion has just been released and is currently available through the organization’s Web site and Flag & Emblem Sales division.
“History of The American Legion: A National Legacy” was produced by Blackhorse Productions, a California-based company that specializes in military documentaries. Narrated by actor Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers), the movie traces the World War I roots of The American Legion and follows its history from its founding through its support for the military during the Global War on Terrorism.
“The American Legion has been the leading voice for veterans and the military since 1919,” National Commander Clarence E. Hill said. “While many people know that The American Legion played a pivotal role in the creation of the GI Bill, they don’t necessarily know the fascinating history behind it. From the elevation of the VA to cabinet-status to the administration of some of the most successful youth programs in the country, The American Legion has too many noteworthy accomplishments for me to mention here. I am pleased that we now have a DVD that brings the illustrious history of The American Legion to life. This would make a great gift for any Legionnaire and a great educational tool for the general public.
“The National Executive Committee passed Resolution 6 during its October 2008 meetings, which authorized The American Legion to cooperate with Blackhorse Productions in the creation of the documentary. The project was completed at no cost to The American Legion, with a portion of the sales proceeds being allocated to The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, Child Welfare Foundation and National Emergency Fund.
“Preserving history and teaching viewers about the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans is a passion for Blackhorse Productions,” said Jason Heit, Executive Producer and CEO. “We were extremely excited to not just tell the great story of The American Legion, but to include the American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders.”
The DVDs cost $19.95 each and are available online at www.emblem.legion.org or by calling 1-888-453-4466. The stock number is 755.906.
With a current membership of 2.5-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and the mentoring of youth. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
WASHINGTON (June 3, 2010) – The American Legion welcomed the introduction of a Senate bill last week that would substantially improve and expand education benefits for veterans.
Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, is sponsoring the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, which he introduced in the Senate on May 27.
“This new legislation would realize some of the changes we’ve been suggesting to Congress for the past couple of years,” said Clarence Hill, national commander of The American Legion. “We’re especially happy to see that Senator Akaka’s bill would extend benefits to those veterans attending vocational schools, on-the-job training and apprenticeships.”
Hill said the original 1944 GI Bill – authored and championed by The American Legion – paid for the education of about 16 million veterans. “And half of them went to some type of vocational institution after World War II, so it’s most appropriate to expand today’s benefits beyond traditional colleges and universities.”
Robert Madden, assistant director of The American Legion’s economic division, said that if Akaka’s bill (S. 3447) becomes law, “every veteran would be free to choose any type of education and employment path that he or she happens to desire.
“Veterans have served America with pride and dedication. With bipartisan support, Congress can show its gratitude to them and their families by creating a GI Bill that is much more equitable,” Madden said.
If passed, Akaka’s legislation would upgrade veterans education benefits with several new provisions, including:
- Veterans attending vocational schools would receive the national yearly average for tuition/fee payments, plus housing stipend based upon regular rate of the military’s BHA (basic housing allowance).
- On-the-job training and apprenticeships will be paid for on a prorated schedule:
- 75 percent of costs for the first six months, 55 percent for the next six months, and 35 percent for each subsequent month up to 24 additional months; benefits also include housing stipend and $1,000 annual book stipend.
- 60 percent of charges for flight training and 55 percent for correspondence courses will be covered, based on the national average of established cost at all institutions of higher learning.
- Servicemembers who retired after Sept. 11, 2001 but before the Post-9/11 GI Bill went into effect would be able to transfer current veterans education benefits to their family members (this provision would be paid for by DoD and other federal agencies).
- Housing allowance: distance-learning students and those attending schools overseas will receive 50 percent of the established rate (which would become prorated, based on a veteran’s actual course load).
- Instead of paying up to $2,000 for a one-time test for licensure or certification, an unlimited number of tests will be allowed, with charges being deducted from a veteran’s monthly benefits.
During a hearing before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on April 21, Madden urged Congress to cover non-degree education programs with GI Bill benefits, saying that such a disparity “has caused much concern.”
At that same hearing, Akaka promised to introduce legislation before Memorial Day to help improve veterans education benefits. He delivered on that promise last week.