Deadline is Dec. 31.
The American Legion Overseas Graves Decoration Trust Fund was established in the 1920s and
provides U.S. flags – USA-made and purchased from Emblem Sales – flown at cemeteries and
burial sites in foreign countries where American troops are buried or otherwise memorialized. The first
fundraising for the decoration of overseas graves took place in 1921-1922, and the current plan has been in force since 1935.
Income of the fund is used to honor, preserve and decorate the overseas graves of those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as to financially assist departments and posts outside the continental United States of America to honor and decorate individual graves of veterans laid to rest outside American Battle Monument Commission-controlled facilities.
The period to request funds for 2026 decorating opened Nov. 1. The deadline is Dec. 31, but if funds remain, submissions received after then may be considered. Fund requests must be sent directly to the American Legion national treasurer via email at financedivision@legion.org and CC’d to fund liaison Doug Haggan at dhaggan@sbcglobal.net. The following information is required with each request:
1. The name of the veteran upon whose grave will be placed a flag and/or flowers
2. The cemetery name and location (city and country) where the veteran is at rest
3. A written quote (not to exceed $50 U.S.) from a local florist for flowers to decorate each
veteran’s grave
4. A mailing address for Emblem Sales to mail a flag for each grave to be decorated
5. A mailing address for the national treasurer to mail each approved requesting organization the funds
6. Funds awarded are based on merit and availability as determined by the trustees.
7. Those who receive funds must provide the trustees a written after-action report (AAR) of their use within 60 days of disbursement. If the receiving party does not provide the AAR, the organization will not be eligible for additional funds in succeeding years until delinquent reports have been filed. AARs must be sent to financedivision@legion.org for filing and further distribution.
- FODPAL