Two independent veterans clubs in Washington D.C. - one formed on the campus  of George Washington University, the other among veterans employed by the  government - joined together to sponsor a servicemen's party. By September 1944  other such veterans clubs organized throughout America.

     On November 11,   1944, Veterans Day, an article entitled '12,000,000 in Search of a Leader'   appeared in Collier's Magazine. This story, written by Walter Davenport, introduced   the clubs and outlined their mutual aims-

1. To promote world peace.
2. To preserve  the American Way of Life, and
3. To help the veteran help himself.

     In December,   18 leaders, representing nine groups, met in Kansas City, Missouri. There a   national organization was formed, and it was on December 9, 1944 the name   "American Veterans of World War II' was chosen. The word AMVETS, coined by  a newspaper reporter, soon became the official name.

     The 'White Clover', a  flower which thrives in freedom throughout the world, is symbolic of the struggle   during World War 11 and is the adopted flower of AMVETS. 

     In October 1945, two months after the end of World War 11, the first national  convention was called in Chicago. In 1946 AMVETS petitioned Congress for  a federal charter. AMVETS, having displayed dignity and sound approach to  National problems, won the deep respect of Congress, and on July 23, 1 947,  President Harry S. Truman signed the AMVETS charter.  During the administrations of President Lyndon B. Johnson and President Ronald  Reagan, the AMVETS Congressional Charter was amended to redefine the  eligibility dates for AMVETS membership to include those men and women  who served actively and honorably from September 1 6, 1 940 to the present  time.

     AMVETS is now the only Congressionally chartered veterans organization  that honors and recognized the sacrifices of peace-time veterans and  servicepersons by extending membership eligibility to them.                            

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