Freeholders Honor American Legion on 100th Anniversary

Published on November 04, 2019

There are 21 Legion Posts in Morris County

The Morris County Board of Freeholders is honoring the American Legion, including 21 Legion posts in Morris County, on the centennial of the organization, which held its first convention 100 years ago, starting on Nov. 10, 1919, in Minneapolis.

(, 0B) Morris County Freeholders, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, and County Clerk Ann Grossi join county American Legion Commander Amery Vasso in celebrating 100 years of the American Legion.

The county governing board at a recent ceremony in Morristown issued a resolution of congratulations to Morris County American Legion Commander Amery Vasso.

We thank members and leaders of the American Legion, here in Morris County and across the state and nation, for their service to our country and dedication to service and advocacy,'' said Morris County Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo, who presented the county resolution to Commander Vasso.

Founded in 1919 by U.S. troops stationed in France during World War I, the founders created an organization dedicated to four pillars of service and advocacy: veterans, military personnel, youth and patriotic values.

The American Legion today has a network of 13,000 local posts covering the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, France, Mexico, the Philippines and Puerto Rico, as well as 21 posts in Morris County

The Legion has been instrumental in the creation of a number of major institutions of American society, including formation of the Department of Veterans Affairs, creation of U.S. Flag Code, passage of the GI Bill and more.

Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo and American Legion Commander Amery Vasso(JPG, 2MB) Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo and American Legion Commander Amery Vasso

Every year, the American Legion does the following:

  • Donates more than 3.7 million hours of volunteer service to their communities;
  • Provides assistance on 181,000 VA benefits cases;
  • Donates more than 80,000 pints of blood to collection centers nationwide, which makes the Legion the nation's single largest blood donor;
  • Awards more than 8,000 medals to Junior ROTC students;
  • Sponsors more than 2,500 Scouting units serving more than 64,000 young people;
  • Awards more than $4 million in college scholarships.

The American Legion, including posts throughout Morris County, will conclude the celebration of its 100th Anniversary on Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11.

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