Annual Report • Chapter Search • Convention Information • LEGION History • LEGION Membership Requirements
LEGION Mission Statement: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, to maintain law and order, to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism, to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the great wars, to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation, to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses, to make right the master of might, to promote peace and good will on earth.
LEGION Mission Motto: For God and Country
| LEGION HQ Address/LEGION Map: | LEGION Online |
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| 700 N. Pennsylvania St. P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 |
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| Telephone: (202) 628 1776 | Make a donation LEGION EIN: 35-0144250 |
| LEGION Date Founded: | March 15, 1919 |
| LEGION Congressionally Chartered: | September 16, 1919 36 U.S. Code Chapter 217 |
| LEGION Leadership: |  |
| National Commander: | Charles E. Schmidt |
| LEGION Website | |
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| LEGION History: | |
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The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.
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| LEGION Membership Eligibility Requirements: | |
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Eligibility Information
Honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces. If you have served federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces during any of the war eras listed below, and have been honorably discharged or are still serving — you are eligible for membership in The American Legion! *AUGUST 2, 1990 TO TODAY (PERSIAN GULF/ WAR ON TERRORISM) U.S. Merchant Marine eligible only from December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 (WWII). |
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| Number of Chapters: | 11,978 |
| Members: | 1,400,000 |
LEGION National Headquarters Map
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36 U.S. Code Chapter 217 – THE AMERICAN LEGION
§ 21701 – Organization
(a)Federal Charter.—
The American Legion (in this chapter, the “corporation”) is a federally chartered corporation.
(b)Perpetual Existence.—
Except as otherwise provided, the corporation has perpetual existence.
§ 21702 – Purposes
The purposes of the corporation are—
(1) to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States;
(2) to promote peace and good will among the peoples of the United States and all the nations of the Earth;
(3) to preserve the memories and incidents of the 2 World Wars and the other great hostilities fought to uphold democracy;
(4) to cement the ties and comradeship born of service; and
(5) to consecrate the efforts of its members to mutual helpfulness and service to their country.
§ 21703 – Membership
An individual is eligible for membership in the corporation only if the individual—
(1) has served in the Armed Forces of—
(A) the United States at any time during any period from—
(i) April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918;
(ii) December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946;
(iii) June 25, 1950, through January 31, 1955;
(iv) February 28, 1961, through May 7, 1975;
(v) August 24, 1982, through July 31, 1984;
(vi) December 20, 1989, through January 31, 1990; or
(vii) August 2, 1990, through the date of cessation of hostilities, as decided by the United States Government; or
(B) a government associated with the United States during a period referred to in subclause (A) of this clause and was a citizen of the United States when the individual entered that service; and
(2) was honorably discharged or separated from that service or continues to serve honorably during or after that period.
§ 21704 – Powers
The corporation may—
(1) adopt a constitution, bylaws, and regulations to carry out the purposes of the corporation;
(2) adopt and alter a corporate seal;
(3) establish and maintain offices to conduct its activities;
(4) establish State and territorial organizations and local chapter or post organizations;
(5) provide guidance and leadership to organizations and local chapters established under paragraph (4), but may not control or otherwise influence the specific activities and conduct of such organizations and local chapters;
(6) acquire, own, lease, encumber, and transfer property as necessary to carry out the purposes of the corporation;
(7) publish a magazine and other publications;
(8) sue and be sued; and
(9) do any other act necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of the corporation.
§ 21705 – Exclusive right to name, emblems, and badges
The corporation and its State and local subdivisions have the exclusive right to use the name “The American Legion” or “American Legion”. The corporation has the exclusive right to use, manufacture, and control the right to manufacture, emblems and badges the corporation adopts.
§ 21706 – Political activities
The corporation shall be nonpolitical and may not promote the candidacy of an individual seeking public office.
§ 21707 – Service of process
As a condition to the exercise of any power or privilege granted by this chapter, the corporation shall file, with the secretary of state or other designated official of each State, the name and address of an agent in that State on whom legal process or demands against the corporation may be served.
§ 21708 – Annual report
Not later than January 1 of each year, the corporation shall submit a report to Congress on the activities of the corporation during the prior calendar year. The report may not be printed as a public document.
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Annual National Meeting:
126th Continental Congress
When: June 28, 2017 – July 2, 2017
Where: DAR National Headquarters
Alabama
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Alaska
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Arizona
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Arkansas
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California
- CA 90605 Legion Post #477CA 90605 Legion Post#477
- CA 92674 Legion Post #423CA 92674 Legion Post#423
- CA 91337 Legion Post #308CA 91337 Legion Post#308
- CA 93639 Legion Post #11CA 93639 Legion Post#11
- CA 92340 Legion Post #725CA 92340 Legion Post#725
- CA 93613 Legion Post #147CA 93613 Legion Post#147
- CA 92377 Legion Post #422CA 92377 Legion Post#422
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Colorado
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Connecticut
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Delaware
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Florida
- FL 32976 Legion Post #366FL 32976 Legion Post#366
- FL 32902 Legion Post #191FL 32902 Legion Post#191
- FL 32329 Legion Post #106FL 32329 Legion Post#106
- FL 34230 Legion Post #30FL 34230 Legion Post#30
- FL 34988 Legion Post #355FL 34988 Legion Post#355
- FL 32733 Legion Post #112FL 32733 Legion Post#112
- FL 32353 Legion Post #84FL 32353 Legion Post#84
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Georgia
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Hawaii
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Idaho
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Illinois
- IL 60918 Legion Post #432IL 60918 Legion Post#432
- IL 61516 Legion Post #454IL 61516 Legion Post#454
- IL 62887 Legion Post #1126IL 62887 Legion Post#1126
- IL 60085 Legion Post #1122IL 60085 Legion Post#1122
- IL 62014 Legion Post #578IL 62014 Legion Post#578
- IL 60629 Legion Post #959IL 60629 Legion Post#959
- IL 62082 Legion Post #373IL 62082 Legion Post#373
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Indiana
- IN 46360 Legion Post #37IN 46360 Legion Post#37
- IN 46809 Legion Post #241IN 46809 Legion Post#241
- IN 46217 Legion Post #355IN 46217 Legion Post#355
- IN 47340 Legion Post #353IN 47340 Legion Post#353
- IN 46204 Legion Post #40IN 46204 Legion Post#40
- IN 46304 Legion Post #170IN 46304 Legion Post#170
- IN 46901 Legion Post #177IN 46901 Legion Post#177
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Iowa
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Kansas
- KS 66064 Legion Post #204KS 66064 Legion Post#204
- KS 66521 Legion Post #85KS 66521 Legion Post#85
- KS 66834 Legion Post #71KS 66834 Legion Post#71
- KS 67646 Legion Post #281KS 67646 Legion Post#281
- KS 67731 Legion Post #352KS 67731 Legion Post#352
- KS 66533 Legion Post #31KS 66533 Legion Post#31
- KS 67654 Legion Post #63KS 67654 Legion Post#63
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Kentucky
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Louisiana
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Maine
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Maryland
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Massachusetts
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Michigan
- MI 49036 Legion Post #52MI 49036 Legion Post#52
- MI 48854 Legion Post #148MI 48854 Legion Post#148
- MI 49630 Legion Post #199MI 49630 Legion Post#199
- MI 49284 Legion Post #81MI 49284 Legion Post#81
- MI 48467 Legion Post #499MI 48467 Legion Post#499
- MI 48139 Legion Post #359MI 48139 Legion Post#359
- MI 48730 Legion Post #211MI 48730 Legion Post#211
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Minnesota
- MN 56362 Legion Post #612MN 56362 Legion Post#612
- MN 55117 Legion Post #572MN 55117 Legion Post#572
- MN 55116 Legion Post #451MN 55116 Legion Post#451
- MN 55744 Legion Post #60MN 55744 Legion Post#60
- MN 56470 Legion Post #212MN 56470 Legion Post#212
- MN 56215 Legion Post #62MN 56215 Legion Post#62
- MN 55391 Legion Post #118MN 55391 Legion Post#118
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 64498 Legion Post #32MO 64498 Legion Post#32
- MO 63121 Legion Post #77MO 63121 Legion Post#77
- MO 64024 Legion Post #236MO 64024 Legion Post#236
- MO 63022 Legion Post #611MO 63022 Legion Post#611
- MO 65102 Legion Post #231MO 65102 Legion Post#231
- MO 64128 Legion Post #149MO 64128 Legion Post#149
- MO 64840 Legion Post #431MO 64840 Legion Post#431
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Montana
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Nebraska
- NE 69156 Legion Post #291NE 69156 Legion Post#291
- NE 68028 Legion Post #216NE 68028 Legion Post#216
- NE 68790 Legion Post #252NE 68790 Legion Post#252
- NE 68343 Legion Post #264NE 68343 Legion Post#264
- NE 69336 Legion Post #29NE 69336 Legion Post#29
- NE 68351 Legion Post #218NE 68351 Legion Post#218
- NE 68007 Legion Post #266NE 68007 Legion Post#266
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Nevada
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New Hampshire
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New Jersey
- NJ 7451 Legion Post #53NJ 7451 Legion Post#53
- NJ 8244 Legion Post #352NJ 8244 Legion Post#352
- NJ 8542 Legion Post #76NJ 8542 Legion Post#76
- NJ 8731 Legion Post #517NJ 8731 Legion Post#517
- NJ 8030 Legion Post #135NJ 8030 Legion Post#135
- NJ 8850 Legion Post #25NJ 8850 Legion Post#25
- NJ 7002 Legion Post #165NJ 7002 Legion Post#165
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New Mexico
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New York
- NY 10022 Legion Post #1791NY 10022 Legion Post#1791
- NY 10463 Legion Post #774NY 10463 Legion Post#774
- NY 10314 Legion Post #1857NY 10314 Legion Post#1857
- NY 14103 Legion Post #204NY 14103 Legion Post#204
- NY 13760 Legion Post #1700NY 13760 Legion Post#1700
- NY 14760 Legion Post #530NY 14760 Legion Post#530
- NY 13073 Legion Post #800NY 13073 Legion Post#800
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North Carolina
- NC 28174 Legion Post #431NC 28174 Legion Post#431
- NC 27278 Legion Post #452NC 27278 Legion Post#452
- NC 28371 Legion Post #257NC 28371 Legion Post#257
- NC 27870 Legion Post #38NC 27870 Legion Post#38
- NC 28580 Legion Post #94NC 28580 Legion Post#94
- NC 27888 Legion Post #332NC 27888 Legion Post#332
- NC 28345 Legion Post #49NC 28345 Legion Post#49
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 44903 Legion Post #676OH 44903 Legion Post#676
- OH 44837 Legion Post #280OH 44837 Legion Post#280
- OH 44255 Legion Post #193OH 44255 Legion Post#193
- OH 43615 Legion Post #538OH 43615 Legion Post#538
- OH 44230 Legion Post #407OH 44230 Legion Post#407
- OH 43623 Legion Post #108OH 43623 Legion Post#108
- OH 44144 Legion Post #469OH 44144 Legion Post#469
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 19054 Legion Post #834PA 19054 Legion Post#834
- PA 19120 Legion Post #832PA 19120 Legion Post#832
- PA 15237 Legion Post #866PA 15237 Legion Post#866
- PA 15690 Legion Post #114PA 15690 Legion Post#114
- PA 15112 Legion Post #2PA 15112 Legion Post#2
- PA 15133 Legion Post #447PA 15133 Legion Post#447
- PA 16232 Legion Post #997PA 16232 Legion Post#997
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Rhode Island
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South Carolina
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South Dakota
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Tennessee
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Texas
- TX 78873 Legion Post #489TX 78873 Legion Post#489
- TX 78602 Legion Post #533TX 78602 Legion Post#533
- TX 76872 Legion Post #510TX 76872 Legion Post#510
- TX 79244 Legion Post #337TX 79244 Legion Post#337
- TX 75948 Legion Post #197TX 75948 Legion Post#197
- TX 79347 Legion Post #403TX 79347 Legion Post#403
- TX 79521 Legion Post #221TX 79521 Legion Post#221
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Utah
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Vermont
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Virginia
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Washington
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West Virginia
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Wisconsin
- WI 54498 Legion Post #519WI 54498 Legion Post#519
- WI 54447 Legion Post #547WI 54447 Legion Post#547
- WI 54125 Legion Post #325WI 54125 Legion Post#325
- WI 54433 Legion Post #359WI 54433 Legion Post#359
- WI 54635 Legion Post #541WI 54635 Legion Post#541
- WI 54875 Legion Post #328WI 54875 Legion Post#328
- WI 54767 Legion Post #227WI 54767 Legion Post#227
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Wyoming
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