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 93560 Legion Post #490CA 93560 Legion Post#490
- CA 92250 Legion Post #138CA 92250 Legion Post#138
- CA 92346 Legion Post #421CA 92346 Legion Post#421
- CA 93648 Legion Post #36CA 93648 Legion Post#36
- CA 95685 Legion Post #108CA 95685 Legion Post#108
- CA 93454 Legion Post #0CA 93454 Legion Post#0
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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 62474 Legion Post #609IL 62474 Legion Post#609
- IL 61111 Legion Post #864IL 61111 Legion Post#864
- IL 60630 Legion Post #159IL 60630 Legion Post#159
- IL 60559 Legion Post #338IL 60559 Legion Post#338
- IL 61520 Legion Post #16IL 61520 Legion Post#16
- IL 61525 Legion Post #1078IL 61525 Legion Post#1078
- IL 60559 Legion Post #407IL 60559 Legion Post#407
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Indiana
- IN 46797 Legion Post #377IN 46797 Legion Post#377
- IN 46173 Legion Post #150IN 46173 Legion Post#150
- IN 47385 Legion Post #269IN 47385 Legion Post#269
- IN 46347 Legion Post #301IN 46347 Legion Post#301
- IN 46147 Legion Post #395IN 46147 Legion Post#395
- IN 46526 Legion Post #30IN 46526 Legion Post#30
- IN 46044 Legion Post #469IN 46044 Legion Post#469
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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 49274 Legion Post #360MI 49274 Legion Post#360
- MI 49812 Legion Post #487MI 49812 Legion Post#487
- MI 49094 Legion Post #196MI 49094 Legion Post#196
- MI 48820 Legion Post #379MI 48820 Legion Post#379
- MI 49128 Legion Post #204MI 49128 Legion Post#204
- MI 49629 Legion Post #350MI 49629 Legion Post#350
- MI 48158 Legion Post #117MI 48158 Legion Post#117
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Minnesota
- MN 56166 Legion Post #582MN 56166 Legion Post#582
- MN 56736 Legion Post #421MN 56736 Legion Post#421
- MN 56087 Legion Post #257MN 56087 Legion Post#257
- MN 56245 Legion Post #127MN 56245 Legion Post#127
- MN 55033 Legion Post #3333MN 55033 Legion Post#3333
- MN 55742 Legion Post #575MN 55742 Legion Post#575
- MN 56221 Legion Post #629MN 56221 Legion Post#629
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 64437 Legion Post #164MO 64437 Legion Post#164
- MO 64085 Legion Post #237MO 64085 Legion Post#237
- MO 64473 Legion Post #190MO 64473 Legion Post#190
- MO 63755 Legion Post #158MO 63755 Legion Post#158
- MO 63855 Legion Post #362MO 63855 Legion Post#362
- MO 63957 Legion Post #281MO 63957 Legion Post#281
- MO 63876 Legion Post #303MO 63876 Legion Post#303
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Montana
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Nebraska
- NE 68338 Legion Post #198NE 68338 Legion Post#198
- NE 68958 Legion Post #338NE 68958 Legion Post#338
- NE 68710 Legion Post #131NE 68710 Legion Post#131
- NE 68873 Legion Post #119NE 68873 Legion Post#119
- NE 68743 Legion Post #175NE 68743 Legion Post#175
- NE 68850 Legion Post #111NE 68850 Legion Post#111
- NE 69044 Legion Post #337NE 69044 Legion Post#337
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Nevada
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New Hampshire
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New Jersey
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New Mexico
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New York
- NY 14616 Legion Post #459NY 14616 Legion Post#459
- NY 14814 Legion Post #1612NY 14814 Legion Post#1612
- NY 11575 Legion Post #1957NY 11575 Legion Post#1957
- NY 14546 Legion Post #1830NY 14546 Legion Post#1830
- NY 14424 Legion Post #256NY 14424 Legion Post#256
- NY 11234 Legion Post #1436NY 11234 Legion Post#1436
- NY 10016 Legion Post #1870NY 10016 Legion Post#1870
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 44606 Legion Post #147OH 44606 Legion Post#147
- OH 43055 Legion Post #85OH 43055 Legion Post#85
- OH 43610 Legion Post #786OH 43610 Legion Post#786
- OH 44266 Legion Post #32OH 44266 Legion Post#32
- OH 43609 Legion Post #531OH 43609 Legion Post#531
- OH 43332 Legion Post #101OH 43332 Legion Post#101
- OH 43119 Legion Post #799OH 43119 Legion Post#799
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 18661 Legion Post #592PA 18661 Legion Post#592
- PA 18403 Legion Post #328PA 18403 Legion Post#328
- PA 18504 Legion Post #966PA 18504 Legion Post#966
- PA 18042 Legion Post #611PA 18042 Legion Post#611
- PA 19446 Legion Post #206PA 19446 Legion Post#206
- PA 19140 Legion Post #599PA 19140 Legion Post#599
- PA 15146 Legion Post #820PA 15146 Legion Post#820
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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 53582 Legion Post #257WI 53582 Legion Post#257
- WI 54636 Legion Post #284WI 54636 Legion Post#284
- WI 53590 Legion Post #333WI 53590 Legion Post#333
- WI 53572 Legion Post #113WI 53572 Legion Post#113
- WI 54651 Legion Post #467WI 54651 Legion Post#467
- WI 53527 Legion Post #248WI 53527 Legion Post#248
- WI 54840 Legion Post #185WI 54840 Legion Post#185
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Wyoming
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