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 60804 Legion Post #96IL 60804 Legion Post#96
- IL 62858 Legion Post #914IL 62858 Legion Post#914
- IL 62946 Legion Post #167IL 62946 Legion Post#167
- IL 62002 Legion Post #126IL 62002 Legion Post#126
- IL 62215 Legion Post #1026IL 62215 Legion Post#1026
- IL 60661 Legion Post #769IL 60661 Legion Post#769
- IL 61081 Legion Post #296IL 61081 Legion Post#296
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Indiana
- IN 46561 Legion Post #308IN 46561 Legion Post#308
- IN 47112 Legion Post #123IN 47112 Legion Post#123
- IN 47567 Legion Post #179IN 47567 Legion Post#179
- IN 46071 Legion Post #218IN 46071 Legion Post#218
- IN 46991 Legion Post #368IN 46991 Legion Post#368
- IN 47331 Legion Post #1IN 47331 Legion Post#1
- IN 46514 Legion Post #74IN 46514 Legion Post#74
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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 49064 Legion Post #174MI 49064 Legion Post#174
- MI 48845 Legion Post #182MI 48845 Legion Post#182
- MI 49096 Legion Post #222MI 49096 Legion Post#222
- MI 49079 Legion Post #68MI 49079 Legion Post#68
- MI 48880 Legion Post #256MI 48880 Legion Post#256
- MI 49646 Legion Post #480MI 49646 Legion Post#480
- MI 49934 Legion Post #291MI 49934 Legion Post#291
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Minnesota
- MN 56334 Legion Post #187MN 56334 Legion Post#187
- MN 56336 Legion Post #547MN 56336 Legion Post#547
- MN 55760 Legion Post #23MN 55760 Legion Post#23
- MN 55398 Legion Post #560MN 55398 Legion Post#560
- MN 56520 Legion Post #53MN 56520 Legion Post#53
- MN 56308 Legion Post #87MN 56308 Legion Post#87
- MN 56062 Legion Post #19MN 56062 Legion Post#19
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 63141 Legion Post #397MO 63141 Legion Post#397
- MO 65668 Legion Post #785MO 65668 Legion Post#785
- MO 64632 Legion Post #257MO 64632 Legion Post#257
- MO 65069 Legion Post #147MO 65069 Legion Post#147
- MO 64831 Legion Post #225MO 64831 Legion Post#225
- MO 64788 Legion Post #371MO 64788 Legion Post#371
- MO 63736 Legion Post #369MO 63736 Legion Post#369
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Montana
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Nebraska
- NE 69025 Legion Post #95NE 69025 Legion Post#95
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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 14470 Legion Post #529NY 14470 Legion Post#529
- NY 14212 Legion Post #1320NY 14212 Legion Post#1320
- NY 12601 Legion Post #1466NY 12601 Legion Post#1466
- NY 12809 Legion Post #1518NY 12809 Legion Post#1518
- NY 11787 Legion Post #833NY 11787 Legion Post#833
- NY 11581 Legion Post #854NY 11581 Legion Post#854
- NY 10470 Legion Post #1070NY 10470 Legion Post#1070
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 44001 Legion Post #118OH 44001 Legion Post#118
- OH 44641 Legion Post #548OH 44641 Legion Post#548
- OH 45506 Legion Post #125OH 45506 Legion Post#125
- OH 43402 Legion Post #305OH 43402 Legion Post#305
- OH 45662 Legion Post #471OH 45662 Legion Post#471
- OH 45377 Legion Post #668OH 45377 Legion Post#668
- OH 44626 Legion Post #244OH 44626 Legion Post#244
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 19508 Legion Post #626PA 19508 Legion Post#626
- PA 15147 Legion Post #351PA 15147 Legion Post#351
- PA 19543 Legion Post #537PA 19543 Legion Post#537
- PA 19003 Legion Post #136PA 19003 Legion Post#136
- PA 18702 Legion Post #132PA 18702 Legion Post#132
- PA 17048 Legion Post #124PA 17048 Legion Post#124
- PA 17307 Legion Post #68PA 17307 Legion Post#68
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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 53094 Legion Post #189WI 53094 Legion Post#189
- WI 54630 Legion Post #103WI 54630 Legion Post#103
- WI 54165 Legion Post #106WI 54165 Legion Post#106
- WI 54130 Legion Post #41WI 54130 Legion Post#41
- WI 54139 Legion Post #342WI 54139 Legion Post#342
- WI 54166 Legion Post #117WI 54166 Legion Post#117
- WI 54963 Legion Post #234WI 54963 Legion Post#234
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Wyoming
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