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 |
|---|---|
| 700 N. Pennsylvania St. P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 |
    |
| 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 | |
 |
|
 Top of page ↑ |
|
| LEGION History: | |
|
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.
|
|
|
Top of page ↑ |
|
| LEGION Membership Eligibility Requirements: | |
|
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). |
|
| Number of Chapters: | 11,978 |
| Members: | 1,400,000 |
LEGION National Headquarters Map
Top of page ↑
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.
Top of page ↑
Annual National Meeting:
126th Continental Congress
When: June 28, 2017 – July 2, 2017
Where: DAR National Headquarters
Alabama
Top of page ↑
Alaska
Top of page ↑
Arizona
Top of page ↑
Arkansas
Top of page ↑
California
Top of page ↑
Colorado
Top of page ↑
Connecticut
Top of page ↑
Delaware
Top of page ↑
Florida
Top of page ↑
Georgia
Top of page ↑
Hawaii
Top of page ↑
Idaho
Top of page ↑
Illinois
- IL 62295 Legion Post #901IL 62295 Legion Post#901
- IL 60646 Legion Post #949IL 60646 Legion Post#949
- IL 60634 Legion Post #958IL 60634 Legion Post#958
- IL 60096 Legion Post #1943IL 60096 Legion Post#1943
- IL 60517 Legion Post #387IL 60517 Legion Post#387
- IL 60646 Legion Post #1119IL 60646 Legion Post#1119
- IL 61368 Legion Post #346IL 61368 Legion Post#346
Top of page ↑
Indiana
- IN 46341 Legion Post #190IN 46341 Legion Post#190
- IN 46989 Legion Post #138IN 46989 Legion Post#138
- IN 47373 Legion Post #401IN 47373 Legion Post#401
- IN 47951 Legion Post #23IN 47951 Legion Post#23
- IN 46941 Legion Post #248IN 46941 Legion Post#248
- IN 47922 Legion Post #364IN 47922 Legion Post#364
- IN 47454 Legion Post #63IN 47454 Legion Post#63
Top of page ↑
Iowa
Top of page ↑
Kansas
Top of page ↑
Kentucky
Top of page ↑
Louisiana
Top of page ↑
Maine
Top of page ↑
Maryland
Top of page ↑
Massachusetts
Top of page ↑
Michigan
- MI 49010 Legion Post #89MI 49010 Legion Post#89
- MI 49080 Legion Post #250MI 49080 Legion Post#250
- MI 49265 Legion Post #550MI 49265 Legion Post#550
- MI 48840 Legion Post #269MI 48840 Legion Post#269
- MI 49040 Legion Post #454MI 49040 Legion Post#454
- MI 49065 Legion Post #220MI 49065 Legion Post#220
- MI 49770 Legion Post #194MI 49770 Legion Post#194
Top of page ↑
Minnesota
- MN 56466 Legion Post #124MN 56466 Legion Post#124
- MN 55336 Legion Post #95MN 55336 Legion Post#95
- MN 56058 Legion Post #55MN 56058 Legion Post#55
- MN 56214 Legion Post #309MN 56214 Legion Post#309
- MN 56673 Legion Post #371MN 56673 Legion Post#371
- MN 56621 Legion Post #16MN 56621 Legion Post#16
- MN 56627 Legion Post #494MN 56627 Legion Post#494
Top of page ↑
Mississippi
Top of page ↑
Missouri
- MO 64048 Legion Post #194MO 64048 Legion Post#194
- MO 63627 Legion Post #554MO 63627 Legion Post#554
- MO 65351 Legion Post #279MO 65351 Legion Post#279
- MO 63347 Legion Post #410MO 63347 Legion Post#410
- MO 65605 Legion Post #126MO 65605 Legion Post#126
- MO 63080 Legion Post #18MO 63080 Legion Post#18
- MO 64649 Legion Post #140MO 64649 Legion Post#140
Top of page ↑
Montana
Top of page ↑
Nebraska
Top of page ↑
Nevada
Top of page ↑
New Hampshire
Top of page ↑
New Jersey
Top of page ↑
New Mexico
Top of page ↑
New York
- NY 12996 Legion Post #405NY 12996 Legion Post#405
- NY 14424 Legion Post #1182NY 14424 Legion Post#1182
- NY 10950 Legion Post #488NY 10950 Legion Post#488
- NY 14207 Legion Post #1586NY 14207 Legion Post#1586
- NY 13367 Legion Post #162NY 13367 Legion Post#162
- NY 11553 Legion Post #1487NY 11553 Legion Post#1487
- NY 14414 Legion Post #294NY 14414 Legion Post#294
Top of page ↑
North Carolina
Top of page ↑
North Dakota
Top of page ↑
Ohio
- OH 43552 Legion Post #28OH 43552 Legion Post#28
- OH 45885 Legion Post #323OH 45885 Legion Post#323
- OH 43740 Legion Post #756OH 43740 Legion Post#756
- OH 44061 Legion Post #352OH 44061 Legion Post#352
- OH 44630 Legion Post #436OH 44630 Legion Post#436
- OH 44096 Legion Post #609OH 44096 Legion Post#609
- OH 43565 Legion Post #441OH 43565 Legion Post#441
Top of page ↑
Oklahoma
Top of page ↑
Oregon
Top of page ↑
Pennsylvania
- PA 19344 Legion Post #422PA 19344 Legion Post#422
- PA 15728 Legion Post #222PA 15728 Legion Post#222
- PA 19034 Legion Post #10PA 19034 Legion Post#10
- PA 18302 Legion Post #46PA 18302 Legion Post#46
- PA 19401 Legion Post #39PA 19401 Legion Post#39
- PA 17888 Legion Post #608PA 17888 Legion Post#608
- PA 15314 Legion Post #165PA 15314 Legion Post#165
Top of page ↑
Rhode Island
Top of page ↑
South Carolina
Top of page ↑
South Dakota
Top of page ↑
Tennessee
Top of page ↑
Texas
Top of page ↑
Utah
Top of page ↑
Vermont
Top of page ↑
Virginia
Top of page ↑
Washington
Top of page ↑
West Virginia
Top of page ↑
Wisconsin
- WI 53521 Legion Post #160WI 53521 Legion Post#160
- WI 54871 Legion Post #225WI 54871 Legion Post#225
- WI 53027 Legion Post #19WI 53027 Legion Post#19
- WI 53968 Legion Post #206WI 53968 Legion Post#206
- WI 53515 Legion Post #313WI 53515 Legion Post#313
- WI 53012 Legion Post #288WI 53012 Legion Post#288
- WI 54216 Legion Post #29WI 54216 Legion Post#29
Top of page ↑
Wyoming
Top of page ↑