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
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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 60634 Legion Post #21IL 60634 Legion Post#21
- IL 60188 Legion Post #76IL 60188 Legion Post#76
- IL 61341 Legion Post #235IL 61341 Legion Post#235
- IL 62677 Legion Post #599IL 62677 Legion Post#599
- IL 61025 Legion Post #787IL 61025 Legion Post#787
- IL 60621 Legion Post #87IL 60621 Legion Post#87
- IL 60646 Legion Post #1776IL 60646 Legion Post#1776
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Indiana
- IN 47855 Legion Post #298IN 47855 Legion Post#298
- IN 47126 Legion Post #105IN 47126 Legion Post#105
- IN 46703 Legion Post #31IN 46703 Legion Post#31
- IN 46310 Legion Post #440IN 46310 Legion Post#440
- IN 47963 Legion Post #146IN 47963 Legion Post#146
- IN 47977 Legion Post #280IN 47977 Legion Post#280
- IN 47957 Legion Post #96IN 47957 Legion Post#96
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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 48601 Legion Post #500MI 48601 Legion Post#500
- MI 49255 Legion Post #156MI 49255 Legion Post#156
- MI 49305 Legion Post #473MI 49305 Legion Post#473
- MI 48876 Legion Post #272MI 48876 Legion Post#272
- MI 49242 Legion Post #53MI 49242 Legion Post#53
- MI 49738 Legion Post #106MI 49738 Legion Post#106
- MI 49420 Legion Post #234MI 49420 Legion Post#234
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Minnesota
- MN 55009 Legion Post #142MN 55009 Legion Post#142
- MN 55922 Legion Post #400MN 55922 Legion Post#400
- MN 56297 Legion Post #556MN 56297 Legion Post#556
- MN 56239 Legion Post #564MN 56239 Legion Post#564
- MN 55044 Legion Post #44MN 55044 Legion Post#44
- MN 56149 Legion Post #10MN 56149 Legion Post#10
- MN 56292 Legion Post #306MN 56292 Legion Post#306
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 65233 Legion Post #52MO 65233 Legion Post#52
- MO 63549 Legion Post #282MO 63549 Legion Post#282
- MO 64747 Legion Post #498MO 64747 Legion Post#498
- MO 65337 Legion Post #520MO 65337 Legion Post#520
- MO 63965 Legion Post #333MO 63965 Legion Post#333
- MO 64035 Legion Post #487MO 64035 Legion Post#487
- MO 65452 Legion Post #195MO 65452 Legion Post#195
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Montana
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Nebraska
- NE 69024 Legion Post #133NE 69024 Legion Post#133
- NE 68050 Legion Post #254NE 68050 Legion Post#254
- NE 68878 Legion Post #41NE 68878 Legion Post#41
- NE 68825 Legion Post #59NE 68825 Legion Post#59
- NE 68073 Legion Post #262NE 68073 Legion Post#262
- NE 68972 Legion Post #328NE 68972 Legion Post#328
- NE 68957 Legion Post #45NE 68957 Legion Post#45
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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 10310 Legion Post #1368NY 10310 Legion Post#1368
- NY 11941 Legion Post #1545NY 11941 Legion Post#1545
- NY 13148 Legion Post #366NY 13148 Legion Post#366
- NY 12208 Legion Post #30NY 12208 Legion Post#30
- NY 12010 Legion Post #39NY 12010 Legion Post#39
- NY 14727 Legion Post #655NY 14727 Legion Post#655
- NY 13730 Legion Post #923NY 13730 Legion Post#923
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 44875 Legion Post #326OH 44875 Legion Post#326
- OH 45140 Legion Post #256OH 45140 Legion Post#256
- OH 43952 Legion Post #274OH 43952 Legion Post#274
- OH 45215 Legion Post #69OH 45215 Legion Post#69
- OH 44017 Legion Post #91OH 44017 Legion Post#91
- OH 45177 Legion Post #805OH 45177 Legion Post#805
- OH 44633 Legion Post #551OH 44633 Legion Post#551
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 16823 Legion Post #867PA 16823 Legion Post#867
- PA 16157 Legion Post #749PA 16157 Legion Post#749
- PA 18403 Legion Post #624PA 18403 Legion Post#624
- PA 15101 Legion Post #296PA 15101 Legion Post#296
- PA 18433 Legion Post #465PA 18433 Legion Post#465
- PA 19137 Legion Post #821PA 19137 Legion Post#821
- PA 18452 Legion Post #236PA 18452 Legion Post#236
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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 54020 Legion Post #221WI 54020 Legion Post#221
- WI 53555 Legion Post #216WI 53555 Legion Post#216
- WI 54491 Legion Post #524WI 54491 Legion Post#524
- WI 54514 Legion Post #272WI 54514 Legion Post#272
- WI 54739 Legion Post #37WI 54739 Legion Post#37
- WI 53032 Legion Post #157WI 53032 Legion Post#157
- WI 53813 Legion Post #109WI 53813 Legion Post#109
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Wyoming
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