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 92878 Legion Post #742CA 92878 Legion Post#742
- CA 92552 Legion Post #574CA 92552 Legion Post#574
- CA 92054 Legion Post #0CA 92054 Legion Post#0
- CA 92683 Legion Post #0CA 92683 Legion Post#0
- CA 92832 Legion Post #0CA 92832 Legion Post#0
- CA 93013 Legion Post #62CA 93013 Legion Post#62
- CA 92240 Legion Post #763CA 92240 Legion Post#763
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Colorado
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Connecticut
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Delaware
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Florida
- FL 33462 Legion Post #269FL 33462 Legion Post#269
- FL 33149 Legion Post #374FL 33149 Legion Post#374
- FL 32440 Legion Post #42FL 32440 Legion Post#42
- FL 32621 Legion Post #236FL 32621 Legion Post#236
- FL 34436 Legion Post #225FL 34436 Legion Post#225
- FL 32420 Legion Post #302FL 32420 Legion Post#302
- FL 32693 Legion Post #91FL 32693 Legion Post#91
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Georgia
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Hawaii
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Idaho
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Illinois
- IL 60706 Legion Post #1263IL 60706 Legion Post#1263
- IL 60104 Legion Post #326IL 60104 Legion Post#326
- IL 62001 Legion Post #1147IL 62001 Legion Post#1147
- IL 62927 Legion Post #975IL 62927 Legion Post#975
- IL 61257 Legion Post #1144IL 61257 Legion Post#1144
- IL 60408 Legion Post #241IL 60408 Legion Post#241
- IL 61063 Legion Post #197IL 61063 Legion Post#197
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Indiana
- IN 47869 Legion Post #404IN 47869 Legion Post#404
- IN 46346 Legion Post #434IN 46346 Legion Post#434
- IN 46312 Legion Post #508IN 46312 Legion Post#508
- IN 46251 Legion Post #438IN 46251 Legion Post#438
- IN 47962 Legion Post #506IN 47962 Legion Post#506
- IN 47308 Legion Post #91IN 47308 Legion Post#91
- IN 47875 Legion Post #108IN 47875 Legion Post#108
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Iowa
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Kansas
- KS 67854 Legion Post #290KS 67854 Legion Post#290
- KS 67560 Legion Post #152KS 67560 Legion Post#152
- KS 66083 Legion Post #350KS 66083 Legion Post#350
- KS 67860 Legion Post #208KS 67860 Legion Post#208
- KS 67865 Legion Post #222KS 67865 Legion Post#222
- KS 67665 Legion Post #99KS 67665 Legion Post#99
- KS 67835 Legion Post #261KS 67835 Legion Post#261
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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 49019 Legion Post #36MI 49019 Legion Post#36
- MI 49835 Legion Post #545MI 49835 Legion Post#545
- MI 48901 Legion Post #530MI 48901 Legion Post#530
- MI 49734 Legion Post #458MI 49734 Legion Post#458
- MI 49880 Legion Post #559MI 49880 Legion Post#559
- MI 49748 Legion Post #393MI 49748 Legion Post#393
- MI 49925 Legion Post #41MI 49925 Legion Post#41
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Minnesota
- MN 56572 Legion Post #17MN 56572 Legion Post#17
- MN 56328 Legion Post #136MN 56328 Legion Post#136
- MN 56583 Legion Post #610MN 56583 Legion Post#610
- MN 55121 Legion Post #594MN 55121 Legion Post#594
- MN 55423 Legion Post #540MN 55423 Legion Post#540
- MN 56294 Legion Post #385MN 56294 Legion Post#385
- MN 56594 Legion Post #370MN 56594 Legion Post#370
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 64856 Legion Post #392MO 64856 Legion Post#392
- MO 65035 Legion Post #317MO 65035 Legion Post#317
- MO 63565 Legion Post #34MO 63565 Legion Post#34
- MO 65355 Legion Post #217MO 65355 Legion Post#217
- MO 64628 Legion Post #182MO 64628 Legion Post#182
- MO 64119 Legion Post #61MO 64119 Legion Post#61
- MO 65661 Legion Post #47MO 65661 Legion Post#47
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Montana
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Nebraska
- NE 68824 Legion Post #333NE 68824 Legion Post#333
- NE 68037 Legion Post #353NE 68037 Legion Post#353
- NE 69360 Legion Post #161NE 69360 Legion Post#161
- NE 68714 Legion Post #123NE 68714 Legion Post#123
- NE 68436 Legion Post #164NE 68436 Legion Post#164
- NE 69217 Legion Post #260NE 69217 Legion Post#260
- NE 68730 Legion Post #128NE 68730 Legion Post#128
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Nevada
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New Hampshire
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New Jersey
- NJ 8518 Legion Post #194NJ 8518 Legion Post#194
- NJ 7874 Legion Post #278NJ 7874 Legion Post#278
- NJ 7644 Legion Post #136NJ 7644 Legion Post#136
- NJ 8822 Legion Post #159NJ 8822 Legion Post#159
- NJ 8226 Legion Post #524NJ 8226 Legion Post#524
- NJ 8005 Legion Post #232NJ 8005 Legion Post#232
- NJ 7401 Legion Post #204NJ 7401 Legion Post#204
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New Mexico
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New York
- NY 10306 Legion Post #1598NY 10306 Legion Post#1598
- NY 11793 Legion Post #1273NY 11793 Legion Post#1273
- NY 10504 Legion Post #1097NY 10504 Legion Post#1097
- NY 12183 Legion Post #927NY 12183 Legion Post#927
- NY 14615 Legion Post #1591NY 14615 Legion Post#1591
- NY 14224 Legion Post #735NY 14224 Legion Post#735
- NY 11040 Legion Post #1089NY 11040 Legion Post#1089
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North Carolina
- NC 27018 Legion Post #336NC 27018 Legion Post#336
- NC 27546 Legion Post #28NC 27546 Legion Post#28
- NC 28634 Legion Post #113NC 28634 Legion Post#113
- NC 27041 Legion Post #142NC 27041 Legion Post#142
- NC 28425 Legion Post #294NC 28425 Legion Post#294
- NC 28501 Legion Post #504NC 28501 Legion Post#504
- NC 28134 Legion Post #337NC 28134 Legion Post#337
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 44129 Legion Post #163OH 44129 Legion Post#163
- OH 43078 Legion Post #741OH 43078 Legion Post#741
- OH 43515 Legion Post #373OH 43515 Legion Post#373
- OH 45135 Legion Post #568OH 45135 Legion Post#568
- OH 44077 Legion Post #336OH 44077 Legion Post#336
- OH 43788 Legion Post #415OH 43788 Legion Post#415
- OH 44146 Legion Post #94OH 44146 Legion Post#94
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15853 Legion Post #208PA 15853 Legion Post#208
- PA 17965 Legion Post #371PA 17965 Legion Post#371
- PA 17038 Legion Post #883PA 17038 Legion Post#883
- PA 15425 Legion Post #301PA 15425 Legion Post#301
- PA 19145 Legion Post #822PA 19145 Legion Post#822
- PA 15212 Legion Post #681PA 15212 Legion Post#681
- PA 19006 Legion Post #800PA 19006 Legion Post#800
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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 78861 Legion Post #524TX 78861 Legion Post#524
- TX 79019 Legion Post #344TX 79019 Legion Post#344
- TX 78652 Legion Post #326TX 78652 Legion Post#326
- TX 79041 Legion Post #203TX 79041 Legion Post#203
- TX 76875 Legion Post #8TX 76875 Legion Post#8
- TX 75606 Legion Post #131TX 75606 Legion Post#131
- TX 76530 Legion Post #282TX 76530 Legion Post#282
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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 54943 Legion Post #343WI 54943 Legion Post#343
- WI 54520 Legion Post #94WI 54520 Legion Post#94
- WI 54411 Legion Post #4WI 54411 Legion Post#4
- WI 53955 Legion Post #271WI 53955 Legion Post#271
- WI 54618 Legion Post #133WI 54618 Legion Post#133
- WI 53805 Legion Post #134WI 53805 Legion Post#134
- WI 54013 Legion Post #168WI 54013 Legion Post#168
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Wyoming
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