(Click on the picture in the left-hand corner to see the whole article)

Children and Youth

Closely allied with its concern for the disabled veteran is The American Legion’s interest in the welfare of the children of deceased and disabled veterans.  There is no definite time nor place which can be described as the beginning of The American Legion’s Children and Youth Program (formerly known as Child Welfare Program).  Like many of the purposes and principles outlined in the Preamble, the child welfare concepts undoubtedly were first formed on the battlefields of France during WWI, where shared dangers and hardship created a deep sense of responsibility for the children of fallen comrades.

The American Legion has two child welfare objectives:  first, to assure care and protection for the children of veterans; second, to improve conditions for all children. These objectives are expressed in slogan form as “A Square Deal for Every Child.”

First activities in the field of child welfare by The American Legion were carried on by Legion rehabilitation worker, who saw as early as 1922 that there was a need for special effort on behalf of these unfortunate youngsters.

In the mid-20’s, American Legion child welfare efforts were centered on the establishment of Legion-operated institutions known as “billets,” where children of deceased and disabled veterans were housed and cared for. However, the experience of only a few years proved the institutional approach inadequate and unsatisfactory. A new concept of child care gradually emerged, placing central emphasis on the maintenance of the family home.

In 1925, a National Child Welfare Division was established in the National Headquarters at Indianapolis.  Within three years, the national organization had completely withdrawn from the institutional field and, in its place, was furthering a program of direct temporary assistance to needy children in their own homes.

This forward step by The American Legion, which was considered a new concept in child care, gave great impetus to the development of programs by many other organizations, both private, for the home care of children.

In order to finance its child welfare and rehabilitation programs, at least in part, The American Legion in 1924 launched a campaign to raise a $5,000,000.00 endowment fund.  This goal was reached in little more than a year.  In 1945, the endowment fund was increased to $7,000,000.00. In addition, the national budget for children and youth received generous contributions annually from the legion’s affiliated organizations – the American Legion Auxiliary and others.