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 92227 Legion Post #60CA 92227 Legion Post#60
- CA 95631 Legion Post #587CA 95631 Legion Post#587
- CA 93654 Legion Post #35CA 93654 Legion Post#35
- CA 93465 Legion Post #220CA 93465 Legion Post#220
- CA 92233 Legion Post #135CA 92233 Legion Post#135
- CA 93545 Legion Post #646CA 93545 Legion Post#646
- CA 92257 Legion Post #597CA 92257 Legion Post#597
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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 60656 Legion Post #943IL 60656 Legion Post#943
- IL 61730 Legion Post #617IL 61730 Legion Post#617
- IL 62666 Legion Post #672IL 62666 Legion Post#672
- IL 62462 Legion Post #1134IL 62462 Legion Post#1134
- IL 60641 Legion Post #712IL 60641 Legion Post#712
- IL 61235 Legion Post #724IL 61235 Legion Post#724
- IL 60644 Legion Post #1932IL 60644 Legion Post#1932
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Indiana
- IN 47374 Legion Post #359IN 47374 Legion Post#359
- IN 47369 Legion Post #482IN 47369 Legion Post#482
- IN 46911 Legion Post #429IN 46911 Legion Post#429
- IN 46050 Legion Post #310IN 46050 Legion Post#310
- IN 47032 Legion Post #209IN 47032 Legion Post#209
- IN 46001 Legion Post #87IN 46001 Legion Post#87
- IN 46391 Legion Post #21IN 46391 Legion Post#21
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Iowa
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Kansas
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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 48801 Legion Post #88MI 48801 Legion Post#88
- MI 49058 Legion Post #45MI 49058 Legion Post#45
- MI 48653 Legion Post #96MI 48653 Legion Post#96
- MI 49783 Legion Post #3MI 49783 Legion Post#3
- MI 49238 Legion Post #392MI 49238 Legion Post#392
- MI 49837 Legion Post #115MI 49837 Legion Post#115
- MI 49680 Legion Post #463MI 49680 Legion Post#463
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Minnesota
- MN 56592 Legion Post #200MN 56592 Legion Post#200
- MN 56748 Legion Post #623MN 56748 Legion Post#623
- MN 56644 Legion Post #304MN 56644 Legion Post#304
- MN 55990 Legion Post #369MN 55990 Legion Post#369
- MN 56444 Legion Post #557MN 56444 Legion Post#557
- MN 56132 Legion Post #273MN 56132 Legion Post#273
- MN 55971 Legion Post #94MN 55971 Legion Post#94
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 63025 Legion Post #177MO 63025 Legion Post#177
- MO 64485 Legion Post #287MO 64485 Legion Post#287
- MO 65559 Legion Post #607MO 65559 Legion Post#607
- MO 63343 Legion Post #226MO 63343 Legion Post#226
- MO 63863 Legion Post #293MO 63863 Legion Post#293
- MO 64482 Legion Post #49MO 64482 Legion Post#49
- MO 64020 Legion Post #258MO 64020 Legion Post#258
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Montana
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Nebraska
- NE 69201 Legion Post #90NE 69201 Legion Post#90
- NE 68769 Legion Post #148NE 68769 Legion Post#148
- NE 68735 Legion Post #214NE 68735 Legion Post#214
- NE 69152 Legion Post #109NE 69152 Legion Post#109
- NE 68783 Legion Post #259NE 68783 Legion Post#259
- NE 68820 Legion Post #201NE 68820 Legion Post#201
- NE 68713 Legion Post #86NE 68713 Legion Post#86
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Nevada
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New Hampshire
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New Jersey
- NJ 8069 Legion Post #205NJ 8069 Legion Post#205
- NJ 8527 Legion Post #504NJ 8527 Legion Post#504
- NJ 8525 Legion Post #339NJ 8525 Legion Post#339
- NJ 8852 Legion Post #401NJ 8852 Legion Post#401
- NJ 8854 Legion Post #261NJ 8854 Legion Post#261
- NJ 7701 Legion Post #168NJ 7701 Legion Post#168
- NJ 7205 Legion Post #50NJ 7205 Legion Post#50
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New Mexico
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New York
- NY 13619 Legion Post #789NY 13619 Legion Post#789
- NY 10466 Legion Post #1853NY 10466 Legion Post#1853
- NY 13491 Legion Post #1058NY 13491 Legion Post#1058
- NY 14591 Legion Post #1849NY 14591 Legion Post#1849
- NY 14094 Legion Post #410NY 14094 Legion Post#410
- NY 11363 Legion Post #103NY 11363 Legion Post#103
- NY 12118 Legion Post #91NY 12118 Legion Post#91
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 44108 Legion Post #315OH 44108 Legion Post#315
- OH 44813 Legion Post #535OH 44813 Legion Post#535
- OH 44270 Legion Post #423OH 44270 Legion Post#423
- OH 44303 Legion Post #19OH 44303 Legion Post#19
- OH 43530 Legion Post #635OH 43530 Legion Post#635
- OH 44847 Legion Post #547OH 44847 Legion Post#547
- OH 43112 Legion Post #220OH 43112 Legion Post#220
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 16365 Legion Post #135PA 16365 Legion Post#135
- PA 15066 Legion Post #19PA 15066 Legion Post#19
- PA 16127 Legion Post #220PA 16127 Legion Post#220
- PA 15045 Legion Post #443PA 15045 Legion Post#443
- PA 16617 Legion Post #424PA 16617 Legion Post#424
- PA 16833 Legion Post #505PA 16833 Legion Post#505
- PA 15530 Legion Post #445PA 15530 Legion Post#445
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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
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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 53502 Legion Post #144WI 53502 Legion Post#144
- WI 53004 Legion Post #412WI 53004 Legion Post#412
- WI 54738 Legion Post #459WI 54738 Legion Post#459
- WI 54658 Legion Post #315WI 54658 Legion Post#315
- WI 53528 Legion Post #245WI 53528 Legion Post#245
- WI 54817 Legion Post #379WI 54817 Legion Post#379
- WI 54644 Legion Post #507WI 54644 Legion Post#507
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Wyoming
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