Reply #30: Look at what Wikipedia has to say. [View All]

[im10ashus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legion

The American Legion is an organization of veterans of the United States armed forces who served in wartime. The group boasts nearly 3 million members. In addition to organizing commemorative events and volunteer activities, the American Legion is active in US politics. Its primary political activity is lobbying for the interests of veterans, including support for veteran's benefits such as pensions and the VA hospital system; in addition, it promotes other causes such as support for a Flag Burning Amendment. The organization has also recently supported the Boy Scouts of America in their efforts to refuse membership to gays. In addition, the American Legion is a firm supporter of religion and anti-atheism and several members believe it to be unamerican to criticize the US government during any sort of conflict.

The state American Legions run an annual civic training event for high school juniors called Boys State. Two members from each Boys State are selected for Boys Nation. The American Legion Auxiliary runs Girls State and Girls Nation.

The first national convention of the American Legion was held from November 10-12, 1919 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to congressional testomony in the 1930s several of its leaders, including its original bankroller Irenee Du Pont, plotted a fascist coup against the Government of Franklin D. Roosevelt called the Business Plot. The coup was averted thanks to Smedley Butler, who warned Roosevelt of the plan.

At it's national convention in August of 2005 the American Legion voted to target peace activists and the antiwar movement by “whatever means necessary”. The Legion's commander Thomas Cadmus called for an end to all "public protests" against the war in Iraq. He went on to say “The American Legion will stand against anyone and any group that would demoralize our troops, or worse, endanger their lives by encouraging terrorists to continue their cowardly attacks against freedom-loving peoples.”

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