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 60064 Legion Post #397IL 60064 Legion Post#397
- IL 61554 Legion Post #44IL 61554 Legion Post#44
- IL 62863 Legion Post #423IL 62863 Legion Post#423
- IL 62367 Legion Post #912IL 62367 Legion Post#912
- IL 60649 Legion Post #627IL 60649 Legion Post#627
- IL 60602 Legion Post #1976IL 60602 Legion Post#1976
- IL 61951 Legion Post #68IL 61951 Legion Post#68
Top of page ↑
Indiana
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 49631 Legion Post #236MI 49631 Legion Post#236
- MI 49727 Legion Post #227MI 49727 Legion Post#227
- MI 48141 Legion Post #285MI 48141 Legion Post#285
- MI 48169 Legion Post #419MI 48169 Legion Post#419
- MI 49709 Legion Post #201MI 49709 Legion Post#201
- MI 49829 Legion Post #82MI 49829 Legion Post#82
- MI 48041 Legion Post #566MI 48041 Legion Post#566
Top of page ↑
Minnesota
- MN 55385 Legion Post #125MN 55385 Legion Post#125
- MN 56358 Legion Post #640MN 56358 Legion Post#640
- MN 56373 Legion Post #137MN 56373 Legion Post#137
- MN 56028 Legion Post #311MN 56028 Legion Post#311
- MN 55359 Legion Post #514MN 55359 Legion Post#514
- MN 56573 Legion Post #61MN 56573 Legion Post#61
- MN 56257 Legion Post #156MN 56257 Legion Post#156
Top of page ↑
Mississippi
Top of page ↑
Missouri
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 14150 Legion Post #264NY 14150 Legion Post#264
- NY 11952 Legion Post #861NY 11952 Legion Post#861
- NY 10962 Legion Post #1199NY 10962 Legion Post#1199
- NY 14546 Legion Post #367NY 14546 Legion Post#367
- NY 14108 Legion Post #873NY 14108 Legion Post#873
- NY 14519 Legion Post #428NY 14519 Legion Post#428
- NY 14772 Legion Post #181NY 14772 Legion Post#181
Top of page ↑
North Carolina
Top of page ↑
North Dakota
Top of page ↑
Ohio
- OH 43204 Legion Post #98OH 43204 Legion Post#98
- OH 45802 Legion Post #96OH 45802 Legion Post#96
- OH 43553 Legion Post #445OH 43553 Legion Post#445
- OH 45254 Legion Post #318OH 45254 Legion Post#318
- OH 43520 Legion Post #137OH 43520 Legion Post#137
- OH 45071 Legion Post #681OH 45071 Legion Post#681
- OH 45350 Legion Post #174OH 45350 Legion Post#174
Top of page ↑
Oklahoma
Top of page ↑
Oregon
Top of page ↑
Pennsylvania
- PA 19130 Legion Post #884PA 19130 Legion Post#884
- PA 17010 Legion Post #831PA 17010 Legion Post#831
- PA 15102 Legion Post #725PA 15102 Legion Post#725
- PA 17967 Legion Post #289PA 17967 Legion Post#289
- PA 19464 Legion Post #47PA 19464 Legion Post#47
- PA 15032 Legion Post #593PA 15032 Legion Post#593
- PA 17313 Legion Post #605PA 17313 Legion Post#605
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 54538 Legion Post #374WI 54538 Legion Post#374
- WI 53951 Legion Post #172WI 53951 Legion Post#172
- WI 54773 Legion Post #191WI 54773 Legion Post#191
- WI 54896 Legion Post #303WI 54896 Legion Post#303
- WI 53029 Legion Post #294WI 53029 Legion Post#294
- WI 54174 Legion Post #283WI 54174 Legion Post#283
- WI 54730 Legion Post #131WI 54730 Legion Post#131
Top of page ↑
Wyoming
Top of page ↑