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 62970 Legion Post #178IL 62970 Legion Post#178
- IL 60646 Legion Post #802IL 60646 Legion Post#802
- IL 60634 Legion Post #1042IL 60634 Legion Post#1042
- IL 60402 Legion Post #687IL 60402 Legion Post#687
- IL 60638 Legion Post #1112IL 60638 Legion Post#1112
- IL 60604 Legion Post #758IL 60604 Legion Post#758
- IL 60180 Legion Post #482IL 60180 Legion Post#482
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Indiana
- IN 47639 Legion Post #194IN 47639 Legion Post#194
- IN 47283 Legion Post #134IN 47283 Legion Post#134
- IN 47006 Legion Post #271IN 47006 Legion Post#271
- IN 46051 Legion Post #212IN 46051 Legion Post#212
- IN 47970 Legion Post #125IN 47970 Legion Post#125
- IN 46158 Legion Post #103IN 46158 Legion Post#103
- IN 47591 Legion Post #73IN 47591 Legion Post#73
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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 48881 Legion Post #175MI 48881 Legion Post#175
- MI 49304 Legion Post #133MI 49304 Legion Post#133
- MI 48144 Legion Post #191MI 48144 Legion Post#191
- MI 49111 Legion Post #353MI 49111 Legion Post#353
- MI 48875 Legion Post #129MI 48875 Legion Post#129
- MI 48118 Legion Post #31MI 48118 Legion Post#31
- MI 49099 Legion Post #138MI 49099 Legion Post#138
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Minnesota
- MN 55947 Legion Post #595MN 55947 Legion Post#595
- MN 56083 Legion Post #286MN 56083 Legion Post#286
- MN 56041 Legion Post #365MN 56041 Legion Post#365
- MN 55370 Legion Post #641MN 55370 Legion Post#641
- MN 56262 Legion Post #359MN 56262 Legion Post#359
- MN 55792 Legion Post #239MN 55792 Legion Post#239
- MN 56550 Legion Post #434MN 56550 Legion Post#434
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Mississippi
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Missouri
- MO 65722 Legion Post #214MO 65722 Legion Post#214
- MO 65459 Legion Post #298MO 65459 Legion Post#298
- MO 63501 Legion Post #20MO 63501 Legion Post#20
- MO 65704 Legion Post #128MO 65704 Legion Post#128
- MO 64651 Legion Post #197MO 64651 Legion Post#197
- MO 65349 Legion Post #178MO 65349 Legion Post#178
- MO 65633 Legion Post #413MO 65633 Legion Post#413
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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 12205 Legion Post #1091NY 12205 Legion Post#1091
- NY 12603 Legion Post #1302NY 12603 Legion Post#1302
- NY 11946 Legion Post #924NY 11946 Legion Post#924
- NY 10464 Legion Post #156NY 10464 Legion Post#156
- NY 14132 Legion Post #969NY 14132 Legion Post#969
- NY 10703 Legion Post #299NY 10703 Legion Post#299
- NY 13039 Legion Post #787NY 13039 Legion Post#787
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 43319 Legion Post #745OH 43319 Legion Post#745
- OH 45215 Legion Post #631OH 45215 Legion Post#631
- OH 44309 Legion Post #209OH 44309 Legion Post#209
- OH 44068 Legion Post #743OH 44068 Legion Post#743
- OH 43555 Legion Post #454OH 43555 Legion Post#454
- OH 45408 Legion Post #328OH 45408 Legion Post#328
- OH 44082 Legion Post #691OH 44082 Legion Post#691
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 18407 Legion Post #168PA 18407 Legion Post#168
- PA 15531 Legion Post #461PA 15531 Legion Post#461
- PA 15333 Legion Post #391PA 15333 Legion Post#391
- PA 16028 Legion Post #402PA 16028 Legion Post#402
- PA 15037 Legion Post #553PA 15037 Legion Post#553
- PA 17112 Legion Post #272PA 17112 Legion Post#272
- PA 18434 Legion Post #411PA 18434 Legion Post#411
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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 54409 Legion Post #3WI 54409 Legion Post#3
- WI 54722 Legion Post #291WI 54722 Legion Post#291
- WI 54487 Legion Post #93WI 54487 Legion Post#93
- WI 54213 Legion Post #372WI 54213 Legion Post#372
- WI 54470 Legion Post #274WI 54470 Legion Post#274
- WI 54670 Legion Post #508WI 54670 Legion Post#508
- WI 54810 Legion Post #278WI 54810 Legion Post#278
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Wyoming
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