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 62222 Legion Post #58IL 62222 Legion Post#58
- IL 62841 Legion Post #1273IL 62841 Legion Post#1273
- IL 62572 Legion Post #701IL 62572 Legion Post#701
- IL 62553 Legion Post #317IL 62553 Legion Post#317
- IL 62441 Legion Post #90IL 62441 Legion Post#90
- IL 61875 Legion Post #1256IL 61875 Legion Post#1256
- IL 60039 Legion Post #171IL 60039 Legion Post#171
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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 56437 Legion Post #366MN 56437 Legion Post#366
- MN 56048 Legion Post #281MN 56048 Legion Post#281
- MN 55956 Legion Post #588MN 55956 Legion Post#588
- MN 55803 Legion Post #571MN 55803 Legion Post#571
- MN 55368 Legion Post #343MN 55368 Legion Post#343
- MN 56121 Legion Post #529MN 56121 Legion Post#529
- MN 56716 Legion Post #20MN 56716 Legion Post#20
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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 11232 Legion Post #965NY 11232 Legion Post#965
- NY 13905 Legion Post #80NY 13905 Legion Post#80
- NY 14502 Legion Post #494NY 14502 Legion Post#494
- NY 12015 Legion Post #187NY 12015 Legion Post#187
- NY 13787 Legion Post #1596NY 13787 Legion Post#1596
- NY 13321 Legion Post #26NY 13321 Legion Post#26
- NY 10304 Legion Post #125NY 10304 Legion Post#125
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 44041 Legion Post #124OH 44041 Legion Post#124
- OH 44827 Legion Post #488OH 44827 Legion Post#488
- OH 45715 Legion Post #389OH 45715 Legion Post#389
- OH 45750 Legion Post #64OH 45750 Legion Post#64
- OH 45732 Legion Post #414OH 45732 Legion Post#414
- OH 44691 Legion Post #68OH 44691 Legion Post#68
- OH 45727 Legion Post #418OH 45727 Legion Post#418
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 18041 Legion Post #184PA 18041 Legion Post#184
- PA 17038 Legion Post #910PA 17038 Legion Post#910
- PA 18960 Legion Post #255PA 18960 Legion Post#255
- PA 15666 Legion Post #446PA 15666 Legion Post#446
- PA 17201 Legion Post #46PA 17201 Legion Post#46
- PA 16415 Legion Post #742PA 16415 Legion Post#742
- PA 17737 Legion Post #35PA 17737 Legion Post#35
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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 53924 Legion Post #491WI 53924 Legion Post#491
- WI 54416 Legion Post #414WI 54416 Legion Post#414
- WI 53014 Legion Post #125WI 53014 Legion Post#125
- WI 53185 Legion Post #20WI 53185 Legion Post#20
- WI 53901 Legion Post #47WI 53901 Legion Post#47
- WI 54634 Legion Post #223WI 54634 Legion Post#223
- WI 54945 Legion Post #14WI 54945 Legion Post#14
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Wyoming
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