The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s organization that is devoted to mutual helpfulness of veterans and their immediate families. We focus on service to all veterans. The Legion came to be as a result of some war weary vets of World War I. These vets brought about a not for profit group Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts began to spring up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 2.4 million in 14,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.

Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth. The Legion is comprised of the Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, (SAL), and the American Legion Riders.

American Legion Auxiliary

The American Legion Auxiliary was founded in 1919, The American Legion Auxiliary has nearly 1 million members from all walks of life. The Auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and to veterans, and raises millions of dollars to support its own programs, as well as other worthwhile charities familiar to Americans. It is all accomplished with volunteers.

While originally organized to assist The American Legion, the Auxiliary has achieved its own unique identity while working side-by-side with the veterans who belong to The American Legion. Like the Legion, the Auxiliary’s interests have broadened to encompass the entire community.

The American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. Through its nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it solidly stands behind America and her ideals.

Sons of the American Legion (SAL) was founded in 1932, Sons of The American Legion exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires. S.A.L. members include males of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the U.S. military and were eligible for American Legion membership. Members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion comprise the Legion Family, which has a combined membership of nearly 4.2 million.

Lastly, the American Legion Riders (ALR). In Garden City, Mich., in 1993, Chuck "Tramp" Dare and Bill "Polka" Kaledas, commander of American Legion Post 396, shared an idea to start a motorcycle enthusiasts association within the organization. The two longtime riders wanted an environment where Legion family members could come together to share a common love for motorcycles. Joined by 19 other founding members from their post, Dare and Kaledas were flooded with requests for information about their organization. They agreed to establish a central source for the Riders to ensure that chapters formed not as motorcycle clubs or gangs, but as Legionnaires and Auxiliary and SAL members joining to ride as Legion family. We ride for those veterans that are unable to and attempt to help them in as many ways as is possible through fundraising events. We have plenty of members in the Legion that can assist others with benefits and getting care at the VA. The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation's veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.
Currently, over 110,000 American Legion Riders meet in over 2,000 chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. Riders in Iowa have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders, and Riders in Mulvane, Kan., founded the Patriot Guard to protect the sanctity of military funerals from protesters. Riders in all states have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted massive cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars for countless local, state and national charities. Many Riders, supported by their departments, conduct annual statewide Legacy Runs in direct support of American Legion scholarship programs of Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), supporting our wounded service members across the nation.

True to the Legion's grassroots tradition, each chapter manages its programs at the post level, where the best ideas are born. The Riders are part of many projects and events, including:

• Rolling Thunder, the annual POW/MIA rally in Washington on Memorial Day weekend.
• Annual regional rides such as Operation Wounded Warrior, sponsored by Riders in Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California and other Western states.
• Local charity events in support of The American Legion and local communities.
• Raising money for VA hospitals, women and children centers, children and youth centers, schools and other facilities.
• Sponsoring or participating in motorcycle runs to benefit numerous charities.
• Local memorial ceremonies and community parades.
• The American Legion Legacy Run, an annual cross-country fundraising ride from National Headquarters in Indianapolis to the national convention city.
• Riding to honor fallen military men and women, and to protect the sanctity of their funerals, alongside the Patriot Guard Riders, from those who would dishonor their memory.
• Escorting military units to departure airfields and airports for combat tours overseas, and welcoming them home upon their return.
We are asking all veterans and family members to become a part of this honored organization. We do good deeds for the community of veterans and their families. We sponsor lots of activities, but we need more membership. There are only five Legions in the area that work together on lots of projects and activities. We service the Cedar Creek area on all sides up to Kaufman. If you have a motorcycle with insurance, are a veteran or a family member of a veteran, verifiable through the DD214, please contact us for membership. Our Post is nice, clean and has a few events to keep you entertained. So stop by and speak to any member about joining one of our three departments and help us help those that need the help the most, those that served and have all but been forgotten! Our address is 113 Lee Way Mabank, Texas 75147. Telephone number is 903-887-3532.