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Howard J Schroeder Post 457

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 Why Join The  American  Legion?

 
Click on above logo for WHY YOU SHOULD BELONG

THE UNIFORM MAY CHANGE. THE MISSION DOESN'T HAVE TO END.

STILL SERVING. RECENTLY SEPARATED. RAISING A FAMILY. BUILDING A FUTURE.

THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN THE AMERICAN LEGION.

At some point, you raised your right hand and made a commitment to serve something greater than yourself.

Maybe you're still on active duty. Maybe you're serving in the National Guard or Reserve. Maybe you've recently separated, retired, or have been out of the military for years.

A lot may have changed since you first put on that uniform.

Today, you might be building a career, buying a home, going back to school, raising children, coaching your kid's sports team, or simply trying to balance work, family, and everything life throws your way.

Your priorities may have changed. Your responsibilities may have grown.

But the values that led you to serve are still part of who you are.

You know what it means to be part of a team. You understand sacrifice, responsibility, leadership, and looking out for the person next to you.

You remember the long days, the deployments, the missed birthdays and holidays, the friendships, the laughter, and the experiences that only another service member can truly understand.

And while your military service may eventually end, that sense of belonging and purpose doesn't have to.

That's where The American Legion comes in.

MORE THAN A VETERANS ORGANIZATION. A COMMUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

When some people think of The American Legion, they picture an older generation of veterans gathering at a local Post, sharing stories about their military service.

That camaraderie is part of our history, and it's something worth preserving.

But The American Legion is much more than a place to remember the past.

It's an organization working every day to improve the lives of veterans, current service members, military families, and the communities where we live.

It's about helping a veteran navigate the VA system.

It's about supporting a military family going through a difficult time.

It's about helping young people develop confidence, leadership, citizenship, and character.

It's about scholarships, youth sports, community service, patriotism, and making sure the next generation has opportunities to succeed.

It's about standing up for the men and women who serve our country and the families who stand behind them.

And if you're raising children, this mission is about their future, too.

The Legion recognizes that when someone serves in the military, their family shares in that service. Spouses carry responsibilities. Children endure separations and uncertainty. Families adapt, sacrifice, and support one another.

Those experiences matter.

Your family matters.

And The American Legion's mission reflects that commitment.

OUR MISSION: SERVICE THAT GOES BEYOND THE UNIFORM.

The American Legion's official mission is:

"To enhance the well-being of America's veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness."

Those aren't just words written in a charter.

They're the foundation of what the organization has stood for since 1919.

The Legion's work is built on four pillars of service, each representing something that directly affects veterans, military families, our communities, and future generations.

PILLAR 1: VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHABILITATION

Taking care of those who served.

Leaving the military doesn't mean every challenge ends.

For some veterans, the transition is smooth. For others, navigating VA benefits, health care, employment, education, disability claims, or civilian life can be overwhelming.

The American Legion advocates for the benefits and services veterans have earned and helps connect veterans and their families with resources and assistance.

Through trained and accredited service officers, veterans can receive help understanding and pursuing VA benefits and claims.

Whether you're preparing to separate, have been out for years, or simply have questions about what you've earned, the Legion works to make sure veterans aren't forgotten after their military service ends.

You served your country. You shouldn't have to face every challenge afterward alone.

PILLAR 2: NATIONAL SECURITY

Standing behind those who defend our country.

If you're still serving, you already know that military readiness is about more than equipment, training, and missions.

It's also about the people wearing the uniform and the families waiting for them at home.

The American Legion advocates for a strong national defense, military readiness, and the well-being of active-duty personnel, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families.

That includes supporting quality-of-life issues affecting service members and their families, as well as improvements to the transition from military to civilian life.

The Legion also works to ensure that America's obligations to those who serve are not overlooked.

Because supporting our military means supporting the people and families behind the mission.

PILLAR 3: AMERICANISM

Building stronger communities and teaching the values worth passing on.

You served because something about this country was worth defending.

Now, as a parent, neighbor, or community member, you have an opportunity to help pass those values to the next generation.

Americanism is about citizenship, community service, respect for our nation's flag, understanding our freedoms and responsibilities, and encouraging young people to become engaged, responsible citizens.

The Legion supports programs such as American Legion Boys State, Boys Nation, the Oratorical Contest, flag education, and other citizenship and leadership opportunities.

Local Posts also participate in patriotic observances, ceremonies, volunteer projects, and community events.

These activities aren't just about honoring history.

They're about helping our children understand the responsibilities, opportunities, and freedoms that come with being Americans.

We served to protect a future. Now we can help the next generation build one.

PILLAR 4: CHILDREN & YOUTH

Investing in our children, our families, and the next generation.

For many of today's service members and veterans, this pillar may hit closest to home.

Because once you become a parent, your priorities change.

You start thinking about the opportunities your children will have, the values they'll learn, the people they'll become, and the community they'll grow up in.

The American Legion has made children and youth a central part of its mission since its founding.

Through national programs and local Post activities, the Legion supports opportunities including:

Programs and activities vary by Post and community, but the goal remains the same:

Give children opportunities to grow, learn, lead, and succeed.

And think about what that means for your own family.

Your children can grow up seeing veterans from different generations working together, helping neighbors, honoring service, and giving back to their community.

They can see firsthand that military service isn't just something their parent once did.

It's part of a larger tradition of responsibility, friendship, leadership, and service to others.

The American Legion isn't only about the generation that served before us. It's also about the generation we're raising today.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN YOUR FAMILY AND BEING PART OF SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.

We understand that life is busy.

You've got work, school schedules, sports practices, family commitments, bills, and responsibilities that don't disappear because you joined an organization.

The American Legion isn't asking you to put those things aside.

In fact, we want more veterans and service members who understand those responsibilities, because that's how we build an organization that better serves today's military families.

You don't need to attend every meeting.

You don't need to volunteer for every event.

You don't need to have served in combat, be retired, or wait until you leave the military.

You can get involved in a way that makes sense for your life.

Maybe that means helping with a youth sports program, joining a community service project, supporting a fundraiser, bringing your family to a Post event, or simply getting to know other veterans in your area.

Maybe it means stepping into a leadership role someday.

Or maybe, right now, it just means finding a place where you and your family feel welcome.

Your family comes first. Your involvement should fit the life you're building.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS. AND YOUR IDEAS ARE NEEDED.

The American Legion has been serving veterans and communities for more than a century.

That's a history worth being proud of.

But a proud history alone won't build a strong future.

That requires new members, new ideas, new leaders, and an understanding of how military life and family life have changed.

Today's veterans bring experiences that previous generations may not have faced in quite the same way.

You understand modern deployments, dual-income households, childcare challenges, career transitions, changing military family needs, and the difficulty of finding time for community involvement.

You also bring fresh perspectives, technical skills, energy, and leadership experience.

The Legion needs those perspectives.

We need members who ask questions, share ideas, support worthwhile traditions, and help create new ones.

We need people who can help make local Posts more welcoming to younger veterans, spouses, and children.

We need families who want to participate, not just individuals looking for a membership card.

And we need the next generation of veterans to help decide what The American Legion will look like in another 10, 20, or 50 years.

You aren't just being invited to join the Legion. You're being invited to help shape its future.

YOUR SERVICE HELPED SHAPE WHO YOU ARE. YOUR FAMILY HELPS SHAPE WHAT COMES NEXT.

Think about why you served.

Maybe it was love of country. Maybe it was a sense of duty. Maybe it was opportunity, tradition, or the desire to be part of something bigger than yourself.

Whatever your reason, your service became part of your story.

But your story didn't end when you left the military.

Today, you may be serving your family, your employer, your neighbors, and your community in different ways.

The American Legion offers a way to bring those parts of your life together.

A place to connect with people who understand military service.

A place to find support and offer it to others.

A place where your family can build friendships, participate in community activities, and be part of something meaningful.

A place where your children can discover opportunities, learn important values, and see what service to others looks like.

And a place where your voice, experience, and leadership can help make a difference.

You already know what it means to serve.

Now you have an opportunity to continue that tradition alongside your family.

ACTIVE DUTY. NATIONAL GUARD. RESERVE. VETERAN. RETIRED.

DIFFERENT GENERATIONS. SHARED VALUES. ONE MISSION.

SUPPORT OUR VETERANS. STAND BEHIND OUR MILITARY. STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES. INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN.

THE UNIFORM MAY CHANGE. THE MISSION DOESN'T HAVE TO END.

Bring your experience. Bring your ideas. Bring your family.

JOIN THE AMERICAN LEGION.

HELP US BUILD SOMETHING WORTH PASSING ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION.