Scene from the American Legion 2018 Minneapolis convention.

American Legion Votes to Support WW1CC Programs

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission

The American Legion, the nation’s largest veteran services organization, wrapped up its 100th National Convention on Sunday at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis.

Some 10,000 attendees participated in the convention, including about 3,000 delegates, their friends and family. They represented the nearly 2 million members spread among 12,000 posts across the country.

Among the business that was conducted by the Legion Delegates were General Session votes to support three major programs created the by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission.

- Resolution 107-Support of “Bells of Peace”.

On November 11, 2018 at 11:00am local time, Americans across the nation will toll bells in remembrance of those who served and sacrificed in World War I. The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission is the sponsor of this program, and is working on it with the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the National Cathedral, and the Society of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

- Resolution 109-Support of Valor Medal Review WWI Minorities

Racially-based segregation policies during World War I undoubtedly affected the military awards process for African-American and other minority service members during the war. The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission is planning a systematic review of the highest medals awarded at the time to African American and other minority service members. This program will be administered by Park University and the Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars.

- Resolution 110-Support of Award of Congressional Gold Medal to “Hello Girls”

During World War I, 232 female telephone operators, the "Hello Girls", were recruited by the U.S. Army to connect calls and to communicate with their French counterparts. These bilingual Hello Girls served at military headquarters and command outposts in the field alongside the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Despite their outstanding service and the military oath they took, these women were denied basic veteran status and benefits for sixty years. To recognize their struggle on behalf of all women in uniform, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission has pushed for the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal for the "Hello Girls".

The Legion convention was an overall success. Speeches, events, and seminars, filled the convention schedule. Keynote speakers included Vice President Mike Pence, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

The scale-model sculptural maquette for the new National World War I Memorial was among the displays on the huge convention floor. Further, a screening of the HELLO GIRLS documentary film, a WW1CC partner project produced by filmmaker James Theres, was held during the convention.

The American Legion was born out of meetings in 1919 in Paris, where many soldiers were still based at the end of World War I as they waited to ship back to the United States. Teddy Roosevelt Jr., the son of the former president, helped coordinate the early meetings.