The Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service Act of 2019, also known as The Legion Act, was signed into law on July 30.

The Legion Act offers American Legion membership eligibility to any U.S. military veteran who served at least one day of active military duty since Dec. 7, 1941, and was honorably discharged or is serving now. 

“That fact that after all these years of trying, Congress finally approved this bill and the president signed it is great news for a large group of veterans who are now eligible to benefit from Legion membership,” said Rick Ward, Adjutant for American Legion Post 75 in Gloucester. 

Ward said that Post 75 recently accepted its first new member under the Legion Act. Julia Coates, who is the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 75 President, has now joined Post 75.

Ward said Coates has been a member of the Auxiliary since completing her enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. Under the previous congressional guidelines, her ti...