The American Legion

Today’s American Legion 500 Festival Memorial Day service at the Indiana War Memorial brought together leaders and community in a powerful moment of reflection. With opening remarks from Stephen T. Wiseman and messages from Joe Hogsett and Mike Braun, we were reminded of the true meaning of this weekend. We remember. We honor. We carry it forward.

A Statement for the Record (SFR) submitted by American Legion National Security Division Director Sean Counihan (MS, MBA) expressed support for the U.S. Department of Defense’s fiscal 2027 budget request’s quality-of-life measures. More: https://lnkd.in/gzuZgr2G

The American Legion Family is heartbroken to share that Diane Carlson Evans has passed away after a long and courageous battle against cancer. She was 79. She was a member of American Legion Post 2 in Helena, Mont., and the recipient of The American Legion’s Patriot Award and Distinguished Service Medal for her decade-long effort to install the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., with support from The American Legion. Diane's loss is felt throughout our American Legion Family. She will be especially missed by the women and men in uniform with whom she had served during her six years of active military duty during the Vietnam War and the thousands more she met while founding and leading the Vietnam Women’s Memorial effort to honor her military sisters. In the decades since, she served as an advocate for veterans nationally and close to home. In recognition of her veteran advocacy efforts, Diane was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in January 2025 by President Joe Biden. The American Legion Family extends sincere condolences to Diane’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with all who are affected by this great loss. Read more about Diane and her efforts at https://lnkd.in/gM4_mMd4 Watch Diane tell her story at https://lnkd.in/gR4vFm56

On Memorial Day, American Legion Family members annually honor the more than 1 million men and women who have lost their lives defending America since the Revolutionary War by hosting post events, participating in community parades, dedicating memorials and more. Check out some of the events planned nationwide: https://lnkd.in/g_Tukuak #MemorialDay

This #NationalPoppyDay, we remember the service members who gave everything — not just for our country, but for the people beside them, the families they loved, and the future they believed in. We wear a simple flower, but each poppy tells a story of courage, of service, and of a promise we must never forget. So today, wear it with intention, remember their stories, and help us ensure they are never forgotten. #HonorTheFallen #PoppyinMemory #NeverForget

Looking for something FREE to do this Memorial Day weekend? Focus Features, in partnership with The American Legion, invites veterans, their families, and the local community to an exclusive advance screening of Pressure. Starring Brendan Fraser, Andrew Scott, and Kerry Condon, Pressure follows Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible decision — launch the D-Day invasion or risk losing World War II altogether. Free tickets are limited and are going fast. Secure your spot at the link below! Join us at 3PM on Friday, May 22 at Kan-Kan Cinema for a powerful, one-time experience you won’t want to miss. https://lnkd.in/g98HYhfZ

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will host Memorial Day ceremonies this weekend at more than 120 VA national cemeteries across the country for 100,000 attendees. All events and parking are free of charge and open to the public, and will feature wreath-laying ceremonies, commemorative speeches, the playing of Taps and other patriotic events to honor America’s interred service members. More details: https://lnkd.in/gFZdt7AR

When he came up with the idea for Be the One Mid-South Roundup, Department of Tennessee American Legion Riders Director Jared Melton envisioned an event bringing together all of the members of the American Legion Family while also supporting – and fundraising – for the Department of Tennessee’s Be the One Commission established by Department Commander Todd McKinley. https://lnkd.in/g5cYyyNu

Gold Star Father Mark Schmitz had three choices after his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, was among 13 servicemembers killed at the Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 26, 2021, during the chaotic evacuation of U.S. troops. He could let grief consume him for the rest of his life. He could pick up and move on. Or he could take the worst thing that ever happened to him and turn it into something that would outlast the pain. On this #MemorialDay episode of Tango Alpha Lima, Schmitz joins hosts Adam Marr and Joseph Worley to share the story of The Freedom 13, a mission to build therapeutic retreat camps for veterans and law enforcement on 100-plus acres in all 50 states, free of charge, with the first camp already under construction in Missouri. He also discusses the coalition of Abbey Gate families fighting for GI Bill reform and increased death benefits for fallen servicemembers. Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g5QFWKqh Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gAwvKh_M Read at Legion.org: https://lnkd.in/g42vfN9g

American Legion Boys Nation will celebrate its 80th session this summer, just a few weeks after America celebrates its 250th birthday. We're revisiting the history of Boys Nation in the weeks leading up to #BoysNation2026: https://lnkd.in/gyzCM25g