About Us

History

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Today, membership stands at over 2.2 million in 13,000 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. National Headquarters for The American Legion is in Indianapolis, Indiana, with an additional office in Washington, DC.

The Paris Caucus in March 1919
The Paris Caucus in March 1919

The Four Pillars

The American Legion is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization committed to: (1) mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in the community, (2) advocating patriotism and honor, (3) promoting strong national security, and (4) continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans. These four goals are known as the "Four Pillars of the American Legion." To learn more about The American Legion and the Four Pillars, taking The American Legion Extension Institute (ALEI) online training course is highly recommended.

The Four Pillars of the American Legion (Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, Children & Youth
The Four Pillars of the American Legion (Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism,
Children & Youth) stand proudly in the lobby at the John H. Geiger Operations Center in Indianapolis, IN.

The American Legion in Nebraska

The Department of Nebraska’s Headquarters is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. There are more than 350 American Legion Posts across the state of Nebraska with more than 27,000 Legionnaires. The American Legion Family in Nebraska includes The American Legion Auxiliary, The Sons of The American Legion and The American Legion Riders. Together we work hand in hand to support the Four Pillars of The American Legion.

- Department Leadership

- Department Staff

- Department Constitution & By-Laws (Updated June 27, 2022)

- Department Strategic Plan for Sustained Memnership Growth (Updated July 5, 2017)

- Department Area and District Boundaries (Updated August 2019)

- News

- Important Web Links for Nebraska Legionnaires

- Useful Forms for Nebraska Legionnaires