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 92021 Legion Post #303CA 92021 Legion Post#303
- CA 92036 Legion Post #468CA 92036 Legion Post#468
- CA 93662 Legion Post #12CA 93662 Legion Post#12
- CA 91393 Legion Post #735CA 91393 Legion Post#735
- CA 92242 Legion Post #466CA 92242 Legion Post#466
- CA 93543 Legion Post #401CA 93543 Legion Post#401
- CA 96130 Legion Post #204CA 96130 Legion Post#204
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Colorado
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Connecticut
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Delaware
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Florida
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Georgia
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Hawaii
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Idaho
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Illinois
- IL 60424 Legion Post #663IL 60424 Legion Post#663
- IL 60439 Legion Post #928IL 60439 Legion Post#928
- IL 60632 Legion Post #1028IL 60632 Legion Post#1028
- IL 60629 Legion Post #600IL 60629 Legion Post#600
- IL 60618 Legion Post #973IL 60618 Legion Post#973
- IL 60625 Legion Post #473IL 60625 Legion Post#473
- IL 61111 Legion Post #904IL 61111 Legion Post#904
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Indiana
- IN 46542 Legion Post #226IN 46542 Legion Post#226
- IN 46555 Legion Post #253IN 46555 Legion Post#253
- IN 46168 Legion Post #329IN 46168 Legion Post#329
- IN 46960 Legion Post #399IN 46960 Legion Post#399
- IN 47448 Legion Post #13IN 47448 Legion Post#13
- IN 47637 Legion Post #463IN 47637 Legion Post#463
- IN 46167 Legion Post #426IN 46167 Legion Post#426
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Iowa
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Kansas
- KS 67119 Legion Post #303KS 67119 Legion Post#303
- KS 67861 Legion Post #291KS 67861 Legion Post#291
- KS 67446 Legion Post #143KS 67446 Legion Post#143
- KS 66508 Legion Post #163KS 66508 Legion Post#163
- KS 67124 Legion Post #86KS 67124 Legion Post#86
- KS 66086 Legion Post #41KS 66086 Legion Post#41
- KS 67878 Legion Post #27KS 67878 Legion Post#27
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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 49060 Legion Post #484MI 49060 Legion Post#484
- MI 49910 Legion Post #562MI 49910 Legion Post#562
- MI 49068 Legion Post #79MI 49068 Legion Post#79
- MI 48343 Legion Post #377MI 48343 Legion Post#377
- MI 49969 Legion Post #417MI 49969 Legion Post#417
- MI 49872 Legion Post #540MI 49872 Legion Post#540
- MI 49774 Legion Post #323MI 49774 Legion Post#323
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Minnesota
- MN 55327 Legion Post #531MN 55327 Legion Post#531
- MN 55406 Legion Post #440MN 55406 Legion Post#440
- MN 55708 Legion Post #160MN 55708 Legion Post#160
- MN 55090 Legion Post #507MN 55090 Legion Post#507
- MN 56737 Legion Post #444MN 56737 Legion Post#444
- MN 56151 Legion Post #285MN 56151 Legion Post#285
- MN 56590 Legion Post #426MN 56590 Legion Post#426
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 63565 Legion Post #251MO 63565 Legion Post#251
- MO 64152 Legion Post #609MO 64152 Legion Post#609
- MO 65767 Legion Post #19MO 65767 Legion Post#19
- MO 64784 Legion Post #175MO 64784 Legion Post#175
- MO 65024 Legion Post #506MO 65024 Legion Post#506
- MO 64481 Legion Post #176MO 64481 Legion Post#176
- MO 63848 Legion Post #324MO 63848 Legion Post#324
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Montana
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Nebraska
- NE 68763 Legion Post #93NE 68763 Legion Post#93
- NE 68791 Legion Post #85NE 68791 Legion Post#85
- NE 68666 Legion Post #132NE 68666 Legion Post#132
- NE 69129 Legion Post #217NE 69129 Legion Post#217
- NE 68729 Legion Post #74NE 68729 Legion Post#74
- NE 68642 Legion Post #80NE 68642 Legion Post#80
- NE 69153 Legion Post #135NE 69153 Legion Post#135
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Nevada
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New Hampshire
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New Jersey
- NJ 8884 Legion Post #253NJ 8884 Legion Post#253
- NJ 7010 Legion Post #126NJ 7010 Legion Post#126
- NJ 8210 Legion Post #198NJ 8210 Legion Post#198
- NJ 7075 Legion Post #97NJ 7075 Legion Post#97
- NJ 7452 Legion Post #145NJ 7452 Legion Post#145
- NJ 8831 Legion Post #522NJ 8831 Legion Post#522
- NJ 7006 Legion Post #185NJ 7006 Legion Post#185
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New Mexico
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New York
- NY 11215 Legion Post #1833NY 11215 Legion Post#1833
- NY 10931 Legion Post #309NY 10931 Legion Post#309
- NY 11751 Legion Post #411NY 11751 Legion Post#411
- NY 10307 Legion Post #126NY 10307 Legion Post#126
- NY 12952 Legion Post #1623NY 12952 Legion Post#1623
- NY 13421 Legion Post #169NY 13421 Legion Post#169
- NY 14787 Legion Post #327NY 14787 Legion Post#327
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North Carolina
- NC 28786 Legion Post #47NC 28786 Legion Post#47
- NC 27545 Legion Post #529NC 27545 Legion Post#529
- NC 28166 Legion Post #401NC 28166 Legion Post#401
- NC 28605 Legion Post #256NC 28605 Legion Post#256
- NC 28690 Legion Post #234NC 28690 Legion Post#234
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 43812 Legion Post #65OH 43812 Legion Post#65
- OH 44310 Legion Post #611OH 44310 Legion Post#611
- OH 43938 Legion Post #351OH 43938 Legion Post#351
- OH 43349 Legion Post #754OH 43349 Legion Post#754
- OH 44060 Legion Post #775OH 44060 Legion Post#775
- OH 43016 Legion Post #800OH 43016 Legion Post#800
- OH 45216 Legion Post #372OH 45216 Legion Post#372
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 17109 Legion Post #730PA 17109 Legion Post#730
- PA 18704 Legion Post #395PA 18704 Legion Post#395
- PA 15904 Legion Post #849PA 15904 Legion Post#849
- PA 19104 Legion Post #204PA 19104 Legion Post#204
- PA 19004 Legion Post #857PA 19004 Legion Post#857
- PA 17931 Legion Post #398PA 17931 Legion Post#398
- PA 18447 Legion Post #570PA 18447 Legion Post#570
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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 78071 Legion Post #413TX 78071 Legion Post#413
- TX 76574 Legion Post #39TX 76574 Legion Post#39
- TX 76661 Legion Post #31TX 76661 Legion Post#31
- TX 79250 Legion Post #187TX 79250 Legion Post#187
- TX 79092 Legion Post #168TX 79092 Legion Post#168
- TX 78059 Legion Post #371TX 78059 Legion Post#371
- TX 77331 Legion Post #629TX 77331 Legion Post#629
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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 54626 Legion Post #252WI 54626 Legion Post#252
- WI 54245 Legion Post #28WI 54245 Legion Post#28
- WI 54725 Legion Post #314WI 54725 Legion Post#314
- WI 53589 Legion Post #59WI 53589 Legion Post#59
- WI 54940 Legion Post #391WI 54940 Legion Post#391
- WI 54537 Legion Post #362WI 54537 Legion Post#362
- WI 53013 Legion Post #338WI 53013 Legion Post#338
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Wyoming
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