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 60617 Legion Post #1001IL 60617 Legion Post#1001
- IL 61345 Legion Post #875IL 61345 Legion Post#875
- IL 62347 Legion Post #640IL 62347 Legion Post#640
- IL 60601 Legion Post #336IL 60601 Legion Post#336
- IL 62220 Legion Post #1937IL 62220 Legion Post#1937
- IL 62957 Legion Post #900IL 62957 Legion Post#900
- IL 60025 Legion Post #166IL 60025 Legion Post#166
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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 56230 Legion Post #227MN 56230 Legion Post#227
- MN 56440 Legion Post #213MN 56440 Legion Post#213
- MN 56044 Legion Post #74MN 56044 Legion Post#74
- MN 55795 Legion Post #361MN 55795 Legion Post#361
- MN 56252 Legion Post #223MN 56252 Legion Post#223
- MN 56634 Legion Post #256MN 56634 Legion Post#256
- MN 56169 Legion Post #460MN 56169 Legion Post#460
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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 10704 Legion Post #1225NY 10704 Legion Post#1225
- NY 12839 Legion Post #574NY 12839 Legion Post#574
- NY 14843 Legion Post #440NY 14843 Legion Post#440
- NY 11385 Legion Post #104NY 11385 Legion Post#104
- NY 14559 Legion Post #709NY 14559 Legion Post#709
- NY 11596 Legion Post #144NY 11596 Legion Post#144
- NY 11552 Legion Post #1139NY 11552 Legion Post#1139
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 45644 Legion Post #291OH 45644 Legion Post#291
- OH 44217 Legion Post #497OH 44217 Legion Post#497
- OH 45211 Legion Post #425OH 45211 Legion Post#425
- OH 43358 Legion Post #603OH 43358 Legion Post#603
- OH 43147 Legion Post #283OH 43147 Legion Post#283
- OH 43014 Legion Post #650OH 43014 Legion Post#650
- OH 43045 Legion Post #248OH 43045 Legion Post#248
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15370 Legion Post #330PA 15370 Legion Post#330
- PA 18706 Legion Post #796PA 18706 Legion Post#796
- PA 19426 Legion Post #203PA 19426 Legion Post#203
- PA 19082 Legion Post #214PA 19082 Legion Post#214
- PA 18705 Legion Post #837PA 18705 Legion Post#837
- PA 17023 Legion Post #404PA 17023 Legion Post#404
- PA 19123 Legion Post #840PA 19123 Legion Post#840
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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 54728 Legion Post #179WI 54728 Legion Post#179
- WI 54843 Legion Post #218WI 54843 Legion Post#218
- WI 54449 Legion Post #54WI 54449 Legion Post#54
- WI 54983 Legion Post #176WI 54983 Legion Post#176
- WI 53118 Legion Post #405WI 53118 Legion Post#405
- WI 53010 Legion Post #222WI 53010 Legion Post#222
- WI 53128 Legion Post #183WI 53128 Legion Post#183
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Wyoming
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