American Legion State Headquarters - PA

Foundation and Growth (1919):

• Established in 1919, the organization has evolved into a network of over 3,500 service officers.

• Dedicated to aiding disabled veterans by providing free assistance in filing for government benefits.

Consolidation of Veterans Services (1921):

• Successfully campaigned for the centralization of veterans services under the Veterans Bureau in 1921.

• This laid the groundwork for subsequent agencies, including the Veterans Administration in 1930 and the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989.

Veterans Employment Initiatives (1922):

• Assisted millions of veterans in securing rewarding careers.

• By June 1922, had placed over 500,000 veterans in permanent jobs and an additional 200,000 in temporary positions.

Advocacy for Veterans' Benefits (Ongoing):

• Successfully lobbied Congress to protect veterans' benefits, VA hospitals, training programs, and services from budget cuts over several decades.

Pioneering PTSD Research (1921):

• Initiated programs and advanced research into what later became known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as early as 1921.

• Contributed to the official diagnosis of PTSD in 1980.

Agent Orange and Atomic Radiation Accountability (Ongoing):

• Conducted studies proving that service-connected exposure to Agent Orange and atomic radiation caused diseases, demanding government accountability.

Veterans Preference Hiring (Ongoing):

• Achieved Veterans Preference Hiring for federal jobs, ensuring veterans receive preferential treatment in government employment.

GI Bill Advocacy and Impact (1944):

• Drafted, presented, promoted, and successfully pushed for the passage of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the original GI Bill.

• Transformed the U.S. economy and culture in the second half of the 20th century by providing education and housing benefits to returning veterans.

Continued Advocacy for Post-9/11 Veterans (2017):

• Worked to improve the GI Bill for post-9/11 veterans, culminating in the 2017 Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the "Forever GI Bill."