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 62864 Legion Post #141IL 62864 Legion Post#141
- IL 60120 Legion Post #57IL 60120 Legion Post#57
- IL 60089 Legion Post #471IL 60089 Legion Post#471
- IL 60532 Legion Post #985IL 60532 Legion Post#985
- IL 61244 Legion Post #227IL 61244 Legion Post#227
- IL 60915 Legion Post #766IL 60915 Legion Post#766
- IL 61358 Legion Post #1121IL 61358 Legion Post#1121
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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 48003 Legion Post #479MI 48003 Legion Post#479
- MI 48867 Legion Post #57MI 48867 Legion Post#57
- MI 49453 Legion Post #137MI 49453 Legion Post#137
- MI 48811 Legion Post #380MI 48811 Legion Post#380
- MI 49756 Legion Post #198MI 49756 Legion Post#198
- MI 49247 Legion Post #180MI 49247 Legion Post#180
- MI 49659 Legion Post #264MI 49659 Legion Post#264
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Minnesota
- MN 56515 Legion Post #289MN 56515 Legion Post#289
- MN 56728 Legion Post #63MN 56728 Legion Post#63
- MN 56510 Legion Post #26MN 56510 Legion Post#26
- MN 56218 Legion Post #198MN 56218 Legion Post#198
- MN 56626 Legion Post #2001MN 56626 Legion Post#2001
- MN 55330 Legion Post #112MN 55330 Legion Post#112
- MN 55375 Legion Post #597MN 55375 Legion Post#597
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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 14731 Legion Post #659NY 14731 Legion Post#659
- NY 14132 Legion Post #1451NY 14132 Legion Post#1451
- NY 14051 Legion Post #1672NY 14051 Legion Post#1672
- NY 14013 Legion Post #626NY 14013 Legion Post#626
- NY 11758 Legion Post #1066NY 11758 Legion Post#1066
- NY 11385 Legion Post #562NY 11385 Legion Post#562
- NY 11212 Legion Post #213NY 11212 Legion Post#213
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 43569 Legion Post #409OH 43569 Legion Post#409
- OH 45679 Legion Post #633OH 45679 Legion Post#633
- OH 43920 Legion Post #374OH 43920 Legion Post#374
- OH 45155 Legion Post #694OH 45155 Legion Post#694
- OH 43143 Legion Post #417OH 43143 Legion Post#417
- OH 45874 Legion Post #346OH 45874 Legion Post#346
- OH 43443 Legion Post #240OH 43443 Legion Post#240
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15221 Legion Post #913PA 15221 Legion Post#913
- PA 17065 Legion Post #674PA 17065 Legion Post#674
- PA 15209 Legion Post #118PA 15209 Legion Post#118
- PA 18214 Legion Post #583PA 18214 Legion Post#583
- PA 17063 Legion Post #287PA 17063 Legion Post#287
- PA 16740 Legion Post #574PA 16740 Legion Post#574
- PA 18951 Legion Post #242PA 18951 Legion Post#242
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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 54151 Legion Post #136WI 54151 Legion Post#136
- WI 54952 Legion Post #152WI 54952 Legion Post#152
- WI 54425 Legion Post #517WI 54425 Legion Post#517
- WI 54629 Legion Post #56WI 54629 Legion Post#56
- WI 54941 Legion Post #306WI 54941 Legion Post#306
- WI 53525 Legion Post #440WI 53525 Legion Post#440
- WI 54824 Legion Post #346WI 54824 Legion Post#346
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Wyoming
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