The Story of the American Legion: The Birth of the Legion

"The Story of The American Legion: The Birth of the Legion" by George Seay Wheat, is a historical narrative, probably authored not long after World War I, that follows the beginnings of the American Legion. It explores how this organization for veterans came to be after the war, focusing on the sense of friendship among soldiers, the country's strength, and fighting for veterans' needs. The book starts by describing the conversations and hopes of soldiers during the war, with Wheat sharing stories of how they began to think about forming a veterans' group as they looked forward to going home. People like Theodore Roosevelt Jr. are mentioned, showing how excited and determined the soldiers were to create an organization that would remember their sacrifices and give them a way to speak together about important issues and getting back into civilian life. The beginning paints a picture of courage, shared dreams, and the difficulties of building an organization that included all veterans as they returned to their normal lives.