American Legion ranks as the largest veterans' organization in the United States. Men and women may join the American Legion if they served honorably in the U.S. armed forces during certain periods of hostility defined by the U.S. Department of Defense. These periods include the years surrounding World War I; World War II; the Korean War; the Vietnam War; the Persian Gulf War of 1991; the Iraq War, which began in 2003; and military actions in Grenada, Lebanon, and Panama. The Legion seeks to advance the aims and interests of veterans, to continue friendships formed during military service, and to see that disabled veterans get the care and help they need. It takes part in programs that promote the American way of life at the local, state, and national levels. It also sponsors patriotic community projects and educational and charitable programs.