Legion Baseball programs: How are you commemorating Lou Gehrig Day?

A 2021 resolution adopted by The American Legion’s National Executive Committee (NEC) encourages “every American Legion Baseball team to observe a moment of silence before their game(s) each year on June 2 in memory of Major League Baseball’s great Lou Gehrig and all veterans who suffer or have died from ALS.”

Last year, Louisiana’s American Legion Baseball programs participated in the inaugural Lou Gehrig Day event, albeit a week late due to rain the week before.

ALB programs planning to participate in Lou Gehrig Day this year, even if your event is after June 2, are encouraged to share your plans by emailing wproffet@legion.org or message via Facebook on the American Legion Baseball Facebook page. We'll share a roundup of Legion Baseball Lou Gehrig Day events in the coming weeks.

In 2021, MLB began an annual tradition of observing Lou Gehrig Day on June 2 to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and those afflicted with the debilitating disease that affects the nervous system. Gehrig, a Hall of Fame first baseman with the New York Yankees died on June 2, 1941 — his 37th birthday — from ALS.

Through its American Legion Baseball program, The American Legion is following suit with MLB as an opportunity to bring greater awareness to the connection of ALS and military service.

In 2008, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established ALS as a presumptive military service-connected disease. This allows veterans with ALS to be eligible for service-connected benefits.

A speech is available for American Legion Baseball teams to use for Lou Gehrig Day events. The speech is available here.