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 60611 Legion Post #856IL 60611 Legion Post#856
- IL 60015 Legion Post #738IL 60015 Legion Post#738
- IL 60901 Legion Post #85IL 60901 Legion Post#85
- IL 60714 Legion Post #65IL 60714 Legion Post#65
- IL 60171 Legion Post #335IL 60171 Legion Post#335
- IL 62016 Legion Post #114IL 62016 Legion Post#114
- IL 62330 Legion Post #297IL 62330 Legion Post#297
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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 48625 Legion Post #404MI 48625 Legion Post#404
- MI 48473 Legion Post #294MI 48473 Legion Post#294
- MI 49913 Legion Post #61MI 49913 Legion Post#61
- MI 48161 Legion Post #40MI 48161 Legion Post#40
- MI 49729 Legion Post #488MI 49729 Legion Post#488
- MI 48813 Legion Post #42MI 48813 Legion Post#42
- MI 48076 Legion Post #328MI 48076 Legion Post#328
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Minnesota
- MN 56225 Legion Post #258MN 56225 Legion Post#258
- MN 55379 Legion Post #2MN 55379 Legion Post#2
- MN 56340 Legion Post #211MN 56340 Legion Post#211
- MN 55358 Legion Post #131MN 55358 Legion Post#131
- MN 56474 Legion Post #613MN 56474 Legion Post#613
- MN 55924 Legion Post #422MN 55924 Legion Post#422
- MN 55793 Legion Post #432MN 55793 Legion Post#432
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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 13755 Legion Post #167NY 13755 Legion Post#167
- NY 14779 Legion Post #535NY 14779 Legion Post#535
- NY 11791 Legion Post #175NY 11791 Legion Post#175
- NY 11385 Legion Post #1815NY 11385 Legion Post#1815
- NY 11378 Legion Post #1174NY 11378 Legion Post#1174
- NY 11379 Legion Post #784NY 11379 Legion Post#784
- NY 14225 Legion Post #1306NY 14225 Legion Post#1306
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 43941 Legion Post #735OH 43941 Legion Post#735
- OH 45204 Legion Post #534OH 45204 Legion Post#534
- OH 44431 Legion Post #131OH 44431 Legion Post#131
- OH 44830 Legion Post #73OH 44830 Legion Post#73
- OH 43928 Legion Post #632OH 43928 Legion Post#632
- OH 43524 Legion Post #262OH 43524 Legion Post#262
- OH 44423 Legion Post #684OH 44423 Legion Post#684
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 16651 Legion Post #591PA 16651 Legion Post#591
- PA 17025 Legion Post #984PA 17025 Legion Post#984
- PA 17801 Legion Post #201PA 17801 Legion Post#201
- PA 15537 Legion Post #8PA 15537 Legion Post#8
- PA 15442 Legion Post #275PA 15442 Legion Post#275
- PA 16150 Legion Post #162PA 16150 Legion Post#162
- PA 15473 Legion Post #752PA 15473 Legion Post#752
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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 54006 Legion Post #269WI 54006 Legion Post#269
- WI 53506 Legion Post #335WI 53506 Legion Post#335
- WI 53941 Legion Post #242WI 53941 Legion Post#242
- WI 54024 Legion Post #143WI 54024 Legion Post#143
- WI 53804 Legion Post #148WI 53804 Legion Post#148
- WI 54143 Legion Post #39WI 54143 Legion Post#39
- WI 53801 Legion Post #482WI 53801 Legion Post#482
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Wyoming
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