What’s your reason to join and renew?

In the February issue of Dispatch, there was a callout for American Legion members to send in their reasons to join the organization and renew their membership. The submissions have been coming in and reading them has served as a reminder as to why The American Legion has existed for nearly 100 years and will continue to exist to serve veterans, servicemembers, their families and communities.

A reason behind the callout was to bring recognition to the Legion’s 100th anniversary celebration and to remind eligible veterans and those who have let their membership expire about the “100 Good Reasons to Join and Renew in The American Legion.” 

These reasons to join and renew are coming from local posts and members.

Jimmy Guevara renews his American Legion membership because of “the amount of family support from Hollywood Post 43 (in Los Angeles). The camaraderie is strong, and with a busy life, grad school and work, the Legion helps reignite the fire needed to help fellow veterans.”

American Legion service officer and Mandarin Post 372 Adjutant Sheri Rodriquez of Jacksonville, Fla., said, “We were there for each other during our deployments and became a family. The American Legion gives me the tools I need to help my new family in the unique ways that they need, whether it be camaraderie, help with (benefits) claims and programs, or just to simply talk and know that they are not alone. They were there for me, so I am here for them.”

Brett Reistad of Virginia, leading candidate for 2018-2019 national commander, sent in his top reasons to join and renew. A few of his reasons are that there’s something for everyone in the organization, that The American Legion Magazine is informative, relevant and entertaining, and that within the organization we:

• Have learning opportunities both in-person and online.
• Can attend events and activities that the whole family can participate in.
• Help protect the benefits that our veterans have earned.
• Have fun.
• Make new friends.
• Respect and honor our first responders.
• Are passionate about what we do.
• Fundraise for internal and external nonprofits.
• Honor our fallen comrades.
• Are patriotic and honor and respect the flag of our country.
• Make a difference in our community, state and nation.
• Support our servicemembers and their families.
• Are as relevant today as we were upon our founding 100 years ago.
• Give youth opportunities to develop and excel with our Americanism programs.

If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to send in your reasons to join and renew in The American Legion. Submissions can be emailed to dispatch@legion.org.

As the ideas come in, look for them at www.legion.org, in social media and other centennial promotions as the 100th anniversary of the organization unfolds.