What's the difference between the American Legion and the VFW besides being a veterans bar to go and have some drinks?

I would call your attention to American Legion emergency assistance programs, Veteran's Day an Memorial Day Parades and ceremonies, American Legion baseball, Boy's State, Girl's State, middle school writing contest's, HS oratorical competition (U.S. Constitution knowledge and speech), Jr. Law Program, house the homeless in winter (one week), provide community center (rent $100.00) for dances, wedding receptions, family reunions,etc. Bingo for the community 40-50 attend every Thursday. VFW has a big-weekly breakfast for community. I hope this helps inform you better!

Well said...albeit they do provide a lot of community services.

SGT Lance Dees - If you were on active duty in Dec 1988 (Operation Just Cause- Panama), then you are eligible for American Legion Membership.

Not any members though - American Legion is for members who served while we were at war, but they don't have to have actually been deployed in the war. VFW - you have to actually have been deployed.

SGT Lance Dees - that is so sad that the Guard is not even considered to join. I am Navy and in the Gulf War conflict from 8/90 - 3/91, was there in the P.G. 50 miles from the beach of Kuwait. Regardless, I think ALL who served to at least provide some type of support to allies and to the rest of the US branches should be allowed such membership.

The Guard can join. The American Legion has lots of National Guard members. We accept anyone as long as they served between Dec. 7, 1941, and today.

There's no time frame requirement for the AL. Service is sufficient, wartime or not...

SFC Michael Hasbun - Sorry. That is not true. For the American Legion service must be during wartime but that service can be anywhere. For the VFW the service must be during wartime and overseas.

https://www.members.legion.org/CGI-BIN/lansaweb?webapp=EDMS+webrtn=NETINTRO+ml=LANSA:XHTML+part=TAL+lang=ENG

SGT Jerrold Pesz - That's essentially a nominal requirement as we've been consistently bombing/shooting someone since 1775...

SGT Jerrold Pesz - I agree as I am looking at my membership card and you have to be serving in a unit somewhere during the dates listed or you can't be a member. I know several guys who don't qualify and we have lobbied long and hard for the Legion to change their by-laws and let all vets in but they won't?