Rep. Vail Celebrates American Legion’s 100th Anniversary

HARTFORD – State Rep. Kurt Vail (R-Stafford) welcomed members of the American Legion today at the State Capitol. It is the organization’s 100th Anniversary, when it was established by congress in 1919 following World War I.

During the ceremony, Rep. Vail presented the American Legion’s Vice Commander, Paul Spedaliere, a legislative citation in recognition of the legion’s advocacy and impact on our state’s veterans.

Rep. Vail, Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said, “It was wonderful seeing veterans from across the state visit us at the Capitol today, especially a few who came down from Somers. The American Legion serves as an integral volunteer group that provides comradery to our veterans and mentorship to the younger generations of our communities.”

According to the American Legion, membership stands at 2 million with over 13,000 local posts across the nation. Notably, the organization has a successful history of advocacy on behalf of veterans convincing both state and federal governments to provide benefits to those who served in the armed forces.

“As this year marks the organization’s 100th anniversary, it also shows that the legion’s membership composition is changing rapidly. We are seeing participation from younger men and women who have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a critical component for the American Legion’s future success and I am encouraged to see the positive impact these groups have on our cities and towns here in Connecticut,” concluded Rep. Vail.

Rep. Vail meets with American Legion Post 101 Commander, David McCaffrey and Judge Advocate Sherri Marquis.

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