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 92399 Legion Post #426CA 92399 Legion Post#426
- CA 95383 Legion Post #681CA 95383 Legion Post#681
- CA 96101 Legion Post #163CA 96101 Legion Post#163
- CA 95327 Legion Post #58CA 95327 Legion Post#58
- CA 95326 Legion Post #872CA 95326 Legion Post#872
- CA 92356 Legion Post #879CA 92356 Legion Post#879
- CA 93647 Legion Post #671CA 93647 Legion Post#671
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Colorado
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Connecticut
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Delaware
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Florida
- FL 32439 Legion Post #249FL 32439 Legion Post#249
- FL 32784 Legion Post #21FL 32784 Legion Post#21
- FL 32424 Legion Post #272FL 32424 Legion Post#272
- FL 32145 Legion Post #102FL 32145 Legion Post#102
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Georgia
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Hawaii
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Idaho
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Illinois
- IL 62859 Legion Post #106IL 62859 Legion Post#106
- IL 61376 Legion Post #179IL 61376 Legion Post#179
- IL 60634 Legion Post #343IL 60634 Legion Post#343
- IL 62087 Legion Post #1167IL 62087 Legion Post#1167
- IL 60712 Legion Post #1226IL 60712 Legion Post#1226
- IL 61910 Legion Post #639IL 61910 Legion Post#639
- IL 60634 Legion Post #183IL 60634 Legion Post#183
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Indiana
- IN 46175 Legion Post #255IN 46175 Legion Post#255
- IN 46928 Legion Post #313IN 46928 Legion Post#313
- IN 46224 Legion Post #132IN 46224 Legion Post#132
- IN 47665 Legion Post #51IN 47665 Legion Post#51
- IN 46065 Legion Post #342IN 46065 Legion Post#342
- IN 46714 Legion Post #111IN 46714 Legion Post#111
- IN 46543 Legion Post #484IN 46543 Legion Post#484
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Iowa
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Kansas
- KS 67846 Legion Post #9KS 67846 Legion Post#9
- KS 66720 Legion Post #170KS 66720 Legion Post#170
- KS 67950 Legion Post #132KS 67950 Legion Post#132
- KS 67436 Legion Post #335KS 67436 Legion Post#335
- KS 67530 Legion Post #180KS 67530 Legion Post#180
- KS 67026 Legion Post #93KS 67026 Legion Post#93
- KS 66097 Legion Post #387KS 66097 Legion Post#387
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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 49833 Legion Post #349MI 49833 Legion Post#349
- MI 49960 Legion Post #92MI 49960 Legion Post#92
- MI 48038 Legion Post #161MI 48038 Legion Post#161
- MI 48192 Legion Post #447MI 48192 Legion Post#447
- MI 49673 Legion Post #399MI 49673 Legion Post#399
- MI 48239 Legion Post #302MI 48239 Legion Post#302
- MI 48126 Legion Post #173MI 48126 Legion Post#173
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Minnesota
- MN 55764 Legion Post #327MN 55764 Legion Post#327
- MN 55786 Legion Post #301MN 55786 Legion Post#301
- MN 56081 Legion Post #33MN 56081 Legion Post#33
- MN 56561 Legion Post #21MN 56561 Legion Post#21
- MN 56538 Legion Post #30MN 56538 Legion Post#30
- MN 56734 Legion Post #315MN 56734 Legion Post#315
- MN 55753 Legion Post #452MN 55753 Legion Post#452
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 63933 Legion Post #109MO 63933 Legion Post#109
- MO 64762 Legion Post #289MO 64762 Legion Post#289
- MO 63755 Legion Post #158MO 63755 Legion Post#158
- MO 63357 Legion Post #180MO 63357 Legion Post#180
- MO 63135 Legion Post #161MO 63135 Legion Post#161
- MO 63830 Legion Post #88MO 63830 Legion Post#88
- MO 63901 Legion Post #153MO 63901 Legion Post#153
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Montana
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Nebraska
- NE 68733 Legion Post #60NE 68733 Legion Post#60
- NE 69140 Legion Post #40NE 69140 Legion Post#40
- NE 68420 Legion Post #168NE 68420 Legion Post#168
- NE 69343 Legion Post #34NE 69343 Legion Post#34
- NE 68450 Legion Post #2NE 68450 Legion Post#2
- NE 68413 Legion Post #157NE 68413 Legion Post#157
- NE 69120 Legion Post #130NE 69120 Legion Post#130
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Nevada
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New Hampshire
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New Jersey
- NJ 7093 Legion Post #15NJ 7093 Legion Post#15
- NJ 7871 Legion Post #491NJ 7871 Legion Post#491
- NJ 8360 Legion Post #4NJ 8360 Legion Post#4
- NJ 7640 Legion Post #30NJ 7640 Legion Post#30
- NJ 7305 Legion Post #388NJ 7305 Legion Post#388
- NJ 7826 Legion Post #157NJ 7826 Legion Post#157
- NJ 7047 Legion Post #33NJ 7047 Legion Post#33
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New Mexico
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New York
- NY 14127 Legion Post #567NY 14127 Legion Post#567
- NY 12601 Legion Post #1467NY 12601 Legion Post#1467
- NY 13452 Legion Post #168NY 13452 Legion Post#168
- NY 13152 Legion Post #239NY 13152 Legion Post#239
- NY 14212 Legion Post #799NY 14212 Legion Post#799
- NY 14487 Legion Post #283NY 14487 Legion Post#283
- NY 14715 Legion Post #772NY 14715 Legion Post#772
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North Carolina
- NC 28328 Legion Post #319NC 28328 Legion Post#319
- NC 28086 Legion Post #155NC 28086 Legion Post#155
- NC 28138 Legion Post #112NC 28138 Legion Post#112
- NC 27831 Legion Post #407NC 27831 Legion Post#407
- NC 27288 Legion Post #254NC 27288 Legion Post#254
- NC 28365 Legion Post #103NC 28365 Legion Post#103
- NC 27850 Legion Post #308NC 27850 Legion Post#308
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 45373 Legion Post #43OH 45373 Legion Post#43
- OH 45224 Legion Post #670OH 45224 Legion Post#670
- OH 44627 Legion Post #651OH 44627 Legion Post#651
- OH 43068 Legion Post #798OH 43068 Legion Post#798
- OH 43512 Legion Post #117OH 43512 Legion Post#117
- OH 44134 Legion Post #572OH 44134 Legion Post#572
- OH 44308 Legion Post #272OH 44308 Legion Post#272
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15332 Legion Post #613PA 15332 Legion Post#613
- PA 18704 Legion Post #655PA 18704 Legion Post#655
- PA 18017 Legion Post #31PA 18017 Legion Post#31
- PA 15563 Legion Post #257PA 15563 Legion Post#257
- PA 15642 Legion Post #359PA 15642 Legion Post#359
- PA 15522 Legion Post #113PA 15522 Legion Post#113
- PA 16743 Legion Post #258PA 16743 Legion Post#258
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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 79772 Legion Post #91TX 79772 Legion Post#91
- TX 79556 Legion Post #109TX 79556 Legion Post#109
- TX 78152 Legion Post #539TX 78152 Legion Post#539
- TX 78827 Legion Post #367TX 78827 Legion Post#367
- TX 76645 Legion Post #4TX 76645 Legion Post#4
- TX 79241 Legion Post #141TX 79241 Legion Post#141
- TX 79235 Legion Post #118TX 79235 Legion Post#118
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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 54893 Legion Post #96WI 54893 Legion Post#96
- WI 54154 Legion Post #302WI 54154 Legion Post#302
- WI 54664 Legion Post #447WI 54664 Legion Post#447
- WI 54766 Legion Post #316WI 54766 Legion Post#316
- WI 53149 Legion Post #375WI 53149 Legion Post#375
- WI 54723 Legion Post #357WI 54723 Legion Post#357
- WI 54107 Legion Post #217WI 54107 Legion Post#217
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Wyoming
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