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 62216 Legion Post #1239IL 62216 Legion Post#1239
- IL 60501 Legion Post #735IL 60501 Legion Post#735
- IL 62546 Legion Post #721IL 62546 Legion Post#721
- IL 62618 Legion Post #605IL 62618 Legion Post#605
- IL 61064 Legion Post #83IL 61064 Legion Post#83
- IL 60629 Legion Post #714IL 60629 Legion Post#714
- IL 60053 Legion Post #134IL 60053 Legion Post#134
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Indiana
- IN 47355 Legion Post #274IN 47355 Legion Post#274
- IN 46562 Legion Post #258IN 46562 Legion Post#258
- IN 47383 Legion Post #437IN 47383 Legion Post#437
- IN 47523 Legion Post #444IN 47523 Legion Post#444
- IN 46923 Legion Post #75IN 46923 Legion Post#75
- IN 47421 Legion Post #33IN 47421 Legion Post#33
- IN 46721 Legion Post #202IN 46721 Legion Post#202
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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 49097 Legion Post #213MI 49097 Legion Post#213
- MI 49781 Legion Post #62MI 49781 Legion Post#62
- MI 49101 Legion Post #345MI 49101 Legion Post#345
- MI 48720 Legion Post #533MI 48720 Legion Post#533
- MI 48429 Legion Post #124MI 48429 Legion Post#124
- MI 48178 Legion Post #338MI 48178 Legion Post#338
- MI 49330 Legion Post #123MI 49330 Legion Post#123
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Minnesota
- MN 56633 Legion Post #284MN 56633 Legion Post#284
- MN 56477 Legion Post #456MN 56477 Legion Post#456
- MN 56723 Legion Post #242MN 56723 Legion Post#242
- MN 56256 Legion Post #158MN 56256 Legion Post#158
- MN 55314 Legion Post #469MN 55314 Legion Post#469
- MN 56088 Legion Post #115MN 56088 Legion Post#115
- MN 56540 Legion Post #238MN 56540 Legion Post#238
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 64854 Legion Post #553MO 64854 Legion Post#553
- MO 65453 Legion Post #522MO 65453 Legion Post#522
- MO 65565 Legion Post #345MO 65565 Legion Post#345
- MO 64748 Legion Post #473MO 64748 Legion Post#473
- MO 63376 Legion Post #313MO 63376 Legion Post#313
- MO 65079 Legion Post #624MO 65079 Legion Post#624
- MO 64076 Legion Post #286MO 64076 Legion Post#286
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Montana
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Nebraska
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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 13624 Legion Post #821NY 13624 Legion Post#821
- NY 11222 Legion Post #1771NY 11222 Legion Post#1771
- NY 11101 Legion Post #1630NY 11101 Legion Post#1630
- NY 12209 Legion Post #1022NY 12209 Legion Post#1022
- NY 10128 Legion Post #1179NY 10128 Legion Post#1179
- NY 12953 Legion Post #219NY 12953 Legion Post#219
- NY 14482 Legion Post #576NY 14482 Legion Post#576
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 45215 Legion Post #111OH 45215 Legion Post#111
- OH 44814 Legion Post #659OH 44814 Legion Post#659
- OH 45621 Legion Post #277OH 45621 Legion Post#277
- OH 43920 Legion Post #736OH 43920 Legion Post#736
- OH 44707 Legion Post #440OH 44707 Legion Post#440
- OH 43209 Legion Post #690OH 43209 Legion Post#690
- OH 44429 Legion Post #737OH 44429 Legion Post#737
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15438 Legion Post #838PA 15438 Legion Post#838
- PA 19606 Legion Post #934PA 19606 Legion Post#934
- PA 19136 Legion Post #133PA 19136 Legion Post#133
- PA 17111 Legion Post #998PA 17111 Legion Post#998
- PA 15025 Legion Post #783PA 15025 Legion Post#783
- PA 15140 Legion Post #256PA 15140 Legion Post#256
- PA 19139 Legion Post #292PA 19139 Legion Post#292
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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 54889 Legion Post #137WI 54889 Legion Post#137
- WI 53147 Legion Post #24WI 53147 Legion Post#24
- WI 54772 Legion Post #235WI 54772 Legion Post#235
- WI 54729 Legion Post #77WI 54729 Legion Post#77
- WI 54406 Legion Post #22WI 54406 Legion Post#22
- WI 54665 Legion Post #138WI 54665 Legion Post#138
- WI 54180 Legion Post #436WI 54180 Legion Post#436
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Wyoming
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