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Program Closed - Legion looks forward to issuance of commemorative coins

The American Legion

Sep 26, 2017

On Sept. 25, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on House Resolution (H.R.) 2519, The

American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, a bill that would require the

Department of Treasury to mint and issue gold, silver and half-dollar clad coins in celebration of

the centennial of the Legion, for one year, beginning in January 2019.

The bill has made steady progress since being introduced to Congress earlier this year. Over the

past few months, Legionnaires have been gathering support and co-sponsors for the bill in both

the House of Representatives and Senate (S. 1182). The Senate measure passed the chamber on

Aug. 3.

The Legion has worked tirelessly to ensure H.R. 2519 passes and advances to the White House

for the president’s signature, according to James Oxford, chairman of The American Legion’s

Legislative Commission.

“This is great news that the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2519 today,” he said. “Out of

all of the coin bills authorized in the last decade, The American Legion broke the record for cosponsors.

The previous record was held by the U.S. Army with 348. We currently have 375 and

that’s phenomenal.”

Unique among U.S. Mint products, all surcharges received from the sale of The American

Legion centennial coin will help raise money for Legion programs that support veterans, service

members and their families, as well as commemorate important aspects of American history and

culture. The funds gained from sales will support caring for those who served and are currently

serving in the armed forces, and programs that maintain patriotic values, strong families and

assistance for at-risk children.

"Since 1919, The American Legion has dedicated itself to serving our nation's veterans,” said

Congressman Phil Roe, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “I

look forward to continuing to work alongside The American Legion in our shared goal of

improving the lives of America’s heroes."

Congress only authorizes the minting of two commemorative coins per year, an honor Oxford

said that the nation’s largest veterans organization is proud to share.

“The money that is generated from these commemorative coins will allow us to fund good,

quality programs for youth, national security, deployed service members and veterans,” Oxford

said.

The Great War

New Jersey WWI Centennial Commission

When the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, New Jersey joined other states in sending resources. The New Jersey's unique location on the busy Atlantic coast and diverse mixture of residents and resources led to other significant contributions to the national effort. New Jersey businesses boomed, ultimately providing munitions, ships, chemicals, automobile parts, and petroleum products to the Allies. The establishment of Camp Dix, Camp Merritt, and other military installations around the state impacted numerous young recruits who flooded into New Jersey for training, and then embarked from Hoboken for action overseas.

Centennial News

Discover all of the amazing facts and stories on the Great War. Go to WWI Centennial website.

Memorials & Sites

While visiting New Jersey, stop by these WWI monument locations. Check out the destinations.

New Jersey’s History

Stay up to date on all of the fascinating historical news. Go to Historical Commission website.

WWI in New Jersey

Find out more on New Jersey’s role in WWI. Watch the NJ WWI video.

National WWI Centennial Commission

The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission was created by an Act of Congress in 2013. Members of the 12-member Commission were appointed by the President and the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the National World War I Museum. All four living former Presidents have agreed to serve the commission as honorary chairmen.

The Commission’s mission is to plan, develop, and execute programs, projects and activities to commemorate the Centennial of World War I (WWI).
Over the next five years the Commission intends to:

Develop educational programs targeted at a variety of audiences and delivered through a variety of broadcast, print and digital media, with the goal of teaching Americans about the country’s most forgotten war.
Organize activities, events, and symposia to commemorate American involvement in “the Great War.”
Establish a National World War I Memorial in Washington DC, and bring attention to the thousands of World War I memorials in communities across the country that honor Americans who served in the war.
Serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about events and activities related to the Centennial Commemoration.

Over the next four years, the Commission will serve as the lead organizer for the nation’s commemorative events and will coordinate the activities of thousands individuals and institutions as they tell the story of the Great War. The Commission’s mission is to raise awareness of and give meaning to the events of a hundred years ago, using educational experiences and programming for all ages.

World War I remains America’s forgotten war, even though more Americans gave their lives during that war than during Korea and Vietnam combined, and even though it profoundly shaped the rest of “the American century.” The Commission will use the Centennial as a timely and essential opportunity to educate the country’s citizens about the causes, courses and consequences of the war; to honor the heroism and sacrifice of those Americans who served; and to commemorate through public programs and initiatives the centennial of this global event.

Collections

The American Legion Library houses an amazing amount of information, in all types of media. The holdings at National Headquarters in Indianapolis include:

More than 12,000 books and pamphlets on Americanism, national security and the wars of the 20th and 21st centuries, among other topics.
50,000 rare documents such as the GI Bill, the revolutionary legislation that offered support and educational assistance to troops returning from World War II.
Complete collections of The American Legion Magazine and The American Legion Dispatch, in addition to proceedings of the National Executive Committee and National Conventions.
Visual collections in the form of photographs and more than 2,500 recruiting posters from the two world wars. (Click here to view the online gallery.)
Histories of the Legion through the eyes and ears of several authors.
A limited number of unit histories dating back to World War I.
A broad collection of artifacts in the Emil A. Blackmore Museum, located on the fourth floor of National Headquarters.
An archival collection documenting the history of The American Legion at a national level.
The American Legion National Library and Museum administers the Digital Archive, which represents the library's digital holdings. The Digital Archive provides full-text access to newsletters, press releases, and other American Legion publications.

American Legion histories

History buffs in need of background information on the Legion can turn to the library staff for guidance. Housed in collections at National Headquarters or at other libraries are several notable books:

James, Marquis. “A History of The American Legion.” New York, NY: William Green, 1923.
Jones, Richard Seelye. “A History of The American Legion.” Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1946.
Rumer, Thomas A. “The American Legion: An Official History 1919-1989.” New York, NY: M. Evans & Company, Inc., 1990.
Historical version of The American Legion Extension Institute, a course of study outlining the rich history, programs, policies, developments, positions and future goals of the organization. The course also serves as a handy reference set on the workings of the Legion. The current version of the Extension Institute is now available online.

In need of other topical books? Try contacting the library staff at (317) 630-1366, or library@legion.org, for sources on topics such as:

Americanism
Veterans affairs
National security
Youth programs
War histories
Disarmament
Veterans compensation
Women’s role in wars

Unit histories

Interested in learning more about the 1st Marine Division? Know someone from the 8th Infantry Division? Need to know about the 9th Tactical Air Command? A relative served on USS Baltimore (CA 68)? The Legion library staff will try to help. They will check the Legion’s collection of unit histories. Just give them a try by notifying them of the specific unit in which you are interested.

Call (317) 630-1366 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, or email library@legion.org.

If you’re seeking military service records, contact the National Personnel Records Center.

Thank you to our participants and distinguished visitors who attended the Post 91 World War I Commemoration on April 1st 2017! We had great presenters and a great turnout! Look for photos (more to be added in our gallery) and follow up coverage.

From L-R: Chuck Robbins, Nicolas Platt (Mayor-Harding Township), Vince Binkoski (Wharton Council), William Chegwidden (Mayor-Wharton), Doug Cabana (Morris County Freeholder), Anthony Bucco (NJ State Senator), Leon Stickle (Commander Post 91, Sara Vasso (Historian Post 91), Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (US Congressman), Anthony Bucco (NJ Assemblyman), Amery Vasso (Adjutant Post 91), Missing Kevin Finegan (Chaplain Post 91)

Participants:

Russ & Elaine Becker (WWI Relics & Artifacts)

Josh Huggan (History of Picatinny Arsenal 1880-WWI)

Peg Shultz (Morris County WWI Memorials)

Walt Hill (Essex Troop in WWI)

John Rountree (Weapons of the Doughboy)

Ellie & Tom Zaleski (Gold Star Mother's Journey)

Rich Walling (Harlem Hellfighters History)

Doug McVarish (NJ in WWI)

Pat Sanftner and Sue Anderson (Fashions for the New Woman)

Charlotte Kelly (Wharton Borough History)

Chuck Robbins (NJ American Legion Centennial)

Sara Vasso (Post 91 and William J Hocking History)

Doug Wolfe and Nancy Ardis-Wolfe (Partnering with the American Legion - Supplies for Soldiers)

Thanks to High Grade Beverage and Sussex Meats for their support.

OUR EVENT HAS RECEIVED SOME GREAT COVERAGE!

CHECK THIS OUT!

American Legion National Website -

National Commanders Message - Click Here!

National Website Article - Click Here!

National Centennial Website - Click Here! and Here!

Daily Record - Click Here!