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 60949 Legion Post #518IL 60949 Legion Post#518
- IL 60617 Legion Post #829IL 60617 Legion Post#829
- IL 60534 Legion Post #699IL 60534 Legion Post#699
- IL 62663 Legion Post #751IL 62663 Legion Post#751
- IL 60620 Legion Post #915IL 60620 Legion Post#915
- IL 60176 Legion Post #104IL 60176 Legion Post#104
- IL 60548 Legion Post #181IL 60548 Legion Post#181
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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 56283 Legion Post #38MN 56283 Legion Post#38
- MN 56119 Legion Post #464MN 56119 Legion Post#464
- MN 56579 Legion Post #376MN 56579 Legion Post#376
- MN 55395 Legion Post #407MN 55395 Legion Post#407
- MN 55768 Legion Post #220MN 55768 Legion Post#220
- MN 56309 Legion Post #357MN 56309 Legion Post#357
- MN 56159 Legion Post #389MN 56159 Legion Post#389
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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 11218 Legion Post #1175NY 11218 Legion Post#1175
- NY 11209 Legion Post #1408NY 11209 Legion Post#1408
- NY 10573 Legion Post #93NY 10573 Legion Post#93
- NY 10552 Legion Post #1768NY 10552 Legion Post#1768
- NY 12189 Legion Post #1035NY 12189 Legion Post#1035
- NY 10507 Legion Post #129NY 10507 Legion Post#129
- NY 14580 Legion Post #603NY 14580 Legion Post#603
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 43528 Legion Post #646OH 43528 Legion Post#646
- OH 43567 Legion Post #265OH 43567 Legion Post#265
- OH 43725 Legion Post #461OH 43725 Legion Post#461
- OH 45322 Legion Post #707OH 45322 Legion Post#707
- OH 43162 Legion Post #201OH 43162 Legion Post#201
- OH 44615 Legion Post #428OH 44615 Legion Post#428
- OH 43023 Legion Post #398OH 43023 Legion Post#398
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15239 Legion Post #980PA 15239 Legion Post#980
- PA 17252 Legion Post #612PA 17252 Legion Post#612
- PA 19111 Legion Post #366PA 19111 Legion Post#366
- PA 19038 Legion Post #100PA 19038 Legion Post#100
- PA 17087 Legion Post #880PA 17087 Legion Post#880
- PA 15417 Legion Post #940PA 15417 Legion Post#940
- PA 15059 Legion Post #481PA 15059 Legion Post#481
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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 53574 Legion Post #141WI 53574 Legion Post#141
- WI 54861 Legion Post #25WI 54861 Legion Post#25
- WI 54521 Legion Post #114WI 54521 Legion Post#114
- WI 54724 Legion Post #295WI 54724 Legion Post#295
- WI 54736 Legion Post #181WI 54736 Legion Post#181
- WI 54499 Legion Post #502WI 54499 Legion Post#502
- WI 53929 Legion Post #115WI 53929 Legion Post#115
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Wyoming
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