In 2019, The American Legion will celebrate 100 years of service to veterans, military personnel, families and communities. To honor the centennial, two limited-edition pistols have been designed for departments and Legionnaires to purchase. The pistols can be kept as keepsakes, raffled to support centennial celebration efforts, or used to support the department commander’s fundraising project. The American Legion Centennial Celebration department pistol is finished with 24kt gold, antique gold, high polished nickel and black chrome. The Legion emblem is engraved in the custom metal grip, while one side of the pistol is engraved with a World War I doughboy, the "For God and Country" banner, the Legion’s 100th Anniversary logo and a 1919 48-star U.S. flag. The other side of the pistol is also engraved with the 100th Anniversary logo and "For God and Country" banner, as well as a 50-star U.S. flag and an active-duty military servicemember. Departments are limited to the purchase of two pistols and only department leadership has authorization to make the purchase. Cost: $2,895. The American Legion Centennial Celebration pistol available for individual Legionnaires to purchase is similar in design to the department pistol, except for a standard grip and the Legion emblem inlaid. Cost: $2,695. The purchase price of both pistols from A&A Engraving – an approved licensee with The American Legion – includes personalized engraving, a certificate of authenticity and a solid oak display case. It does not include sales tax or shipping and handling. Both pistols go on sale Aug. 22 at 8 a.m.; a $1,000 deposit is required. The pistols can be ordered by calling Mark Smith with A&A Engraving at (605) 430-4238. You can also visit auguns.com/american-legion-centennial. Production time for the pistols is three months. There are 100 pistols each for purchase. If after three months there is still inventory available with the department pistol, purchasing will be open to districts, posts and departments that wish to purchase more than two.