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 60640 Legion Post #1990IL 60640 Legion Post#1990
- IL 60409 Legion Post #330IL 60409 Legion Post#330
- IL 60453 Legion Post #757IL 60453 Legion Post#757
- IL 60453 Legion Post #986IL 60453 Legion Post#986
- IL 60805 Legion Post #854IL 60805 Legion Post#854
- IL 60617 Legion Post #1238IL 60617 Legion Post#1238
- IL 60131 Legion Post #974IL 60131 Legion Post#974
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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
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Minnesota
- MN 56187 Legion Post #5MN 56187 Legion Post#5
- MN 56228 Legion Post #126MN 56228 Legion Post#126
- MN 55952 Legion Post #90MN 55952 Legion Post#90
- MN 56288 Legion Post #545MN 56288 Legion Post#545
- MN 55389 Legion Post #453MN 55389 Legion Post#453
- MN 55333 Legion Post #308MN 55333 Legion Post#308
- MN 56435 Legion Post #368MN 56435 Legion Post#368
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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 14624 Legion Post #1737NY 14624 Legion Post#1737
- NY 11697 Legion Post #1847NY 11697 Legion Post#1847
- NY 11726 Legion Post #1015NY 11726 Legion Post#1015
- NY 13037 Legion Post #1287NY 13037 Legion Post#1287
- NY 14845 Legion Post #442NY 14845 Legion Post#442
- NY 12305 Legion Post #21NY 12305 Legion Post#21
- NY 12307 Legion Post #1485NY 12307 Legion Post#1485
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 45036 Legion Post #186OH 45036 Legion Post#186
- OH 45695 Legion Post #476OH 45695 Legion Post#476
- OH 45651 Legion Post #303OH 45651 Legion Post#303
- OH 45383 Legion Post #487OH 45383 Legion Post#487
- OH 43102 Legion Post #57OH 43102 Legion Post#57
- OH 44683 Legion Post #230OH 44683 Legion Post#230
- OH 44680 Legion Post #522OH 44680 Legion Post#522
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 19468 Legion Post #164PA 19468 Legion Post#164
- PA 19526 Legion Post #637PA 19526 Legion Post#637
- PA 15139 Legion Post #600PA 15139 Legion Post#600
- PA 15236 Legion Post #712PA 15236 Legion Post#712
- PA 15025 Legion Post #75PA 15025 Legion Post#75
- PA 19128 Legion Post #3PA 19128 Legion Post#3
- PA 19082 Legion Post #979PA 19082 Legion Post#979
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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 54177 Legion Post #150WI 54177 Legion Post#150
- WI 53115 Legion Post #95WI 53115 Legion Post#95
- WI 53121 Legion Post #45WI 53121 Legion Post#45
- WI 53070 Legion Post #286WI 53070 Legion Post#286
- WI 54135 Legion Post #497WI 54135 Legion Post#497
- WI 53559 Legion Post #279WI 53559 Legion Post#279
- WI 53949 Legion Post #351WI 53949 Legion Post#351
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Wyoming
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