"The Flag Is Full Of Stars" by Dale Gallon depicting the bombardment of Ft. McHenry in Baltimore during The War of 1812. Witnessing this event inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner." Image courtesy of Gallon Historical Art - www.gallon.com

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. A community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -- men and women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. These Posts are organized into 55 Departments -- one each for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Since its chartering in 1919, the Department of Maryland has continued The American Legion's commitment to community, state, and Nation through programs dedicated to veterans affairs, Americanism, and children & youth.