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 60020 Legion Post #703IL 60020 Legion Post#703
- IL 61006 Legion Post #345IL 61006 Legion Post#345
- IL 61820 Legion Post #559IL 61820 Legion Post#559
- IL 61820 Legion Post #24IL 61820 Legion Post#24
- IL 61047 Legion Post #1148IL 61047 Legion Post#1148
- IL 60436 Legion Post #5IL 60436 Legion Post#5
- IL 60048 Legion Post #329IL 60048 Legion Post#329
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Indiana
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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 48430 Legion Post #38MI 48430 Legion Post#38
- MI 48756 Legion Post #370MI 48756 Legion Post#370
- MI 49203 Legion Post #166MI 49203 Legion Post#166
- MI 49615 Legion Post #247MI 49615 Legion Post#247
- MI 49635 Legion Post #221MI 49635 Legion Post#221
- MI 49740 Legion Post #281MI 49740 Legion Post#281
- MI 48888 Legion Post #452MI 48888 Legion Post#452
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Minnesota
- MN 55985 Legion Post #295MN 55985 Legion Post#295
- MN 55709 Legion Post #476MN 55709 Legion Post#476
- MN 56054 Legion Post #300MN 56054 Legion Post#300
- MN 55771 Legion Post #480MN 55771 Legion Post#480
- MN 55371 Legion Post #216MN 55371 Legion Post#216
- MN 55013 Legion Post #272MN 55013 Legion Post#272
- MN 55917 Legion Post #52MN 55917 Legion Post#52
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Mississippi
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Missouri
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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 14755 Legion Post #531NY 14755 Legion Post#531
- NY 13357 Legion Post #920NY 13357 Legion Post#920
- NY 14062 Legion Post #953NY 14062 Legion Post#953
- NY 12871 Legion Post #278NY 12871 Legion Post#278
- NY 14826 Legion Post #805NY 14826 Legion Post#805
- NY 11003 Legion Post #1033NY 11003 Legion Post#1033
- NY 13326 Legion Post #579NY 13326 Legion Post#579
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 44470 Legion Post #751OH 44470 Legion Post#751
- OH 45231 Legion Post #513OH 45231 Legion Post#513
- OH 43937 Legion Post #666OH 43937 Legion Post#666
- OH 44140 Legion Post #385OH 44140 Legion Post#385
- OH 44321 Legion Post #473OH 44321 Legion Post#473
- OH 44142 Legion Post #610OH 44142 Legion Post#610
- OH 44471 Legion Post #158OH 44471 Legion Post#158
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15136 Legion Post #618PA 15136 Legion Post#618
- PA 17061 Legion Post #326PA 17061 Legion Post#326
- PA 17881 Legion Post #92PA 17881 Legion Post#92
- PA 15701 Legion Post #141PA 15701 Legion Post#141
- PA 17036 Legion Post #265PA 17036 Legion Post#265
- PA 18702 Legion Post #815PA 18702 Legion Post#815
- PA 15626 Legion Post #247PA 15626 Legion Post#247
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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 54944 Legion Post #55WI 54944 Legion Post#55
- WI 54627 Legion Post #354WI 54627 Legion Post#354
- WI 53576 Legion Post #209WI 53576 Legion Post#209
- WI 53507 Legion Post #433WI 53507 Legion Post#433
- WI 53806 Legion Post #352WI 53806 Legion Post#352
- WI 53913 Legion Post #26WI 53913 Legion Post#26
- WI 54872 Legion Post #132WI 54872 Legion Post#132
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Wyoming
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