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 62281 Legion Post #665IL 62281 Legion Post#665
- IL 60480 Legion Post #832IL 60480 Legion Post#832
- IL 62879 Legion Post #230IL 62879 Legion Post#230
- IL 60011 Legion Post #158IL 60011 Legion Post#158
- IL 61839 Legion Post #102IL 61839 Legion Post#102
- IL 62202 Legion Post #378IL 62202 Legion Post#378
- IL 60626 Legion Post #108IL 60626 Legion Post#108
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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 56455 Legion Post #443MN 56455 Legion Post#443
- MN 56364 Legion Post #341MN 56364 Legion Post#341
- MN 55354 Legion Post #463MN 55354 Legion Post#463
- MN 56374 Legion Post #328MN 56374 Legion Post#328
- MN 55741 Legion Post #138MN 55741 Legion Post#138
- MN 56653 Legion Post #490MN 56653 Legion Post#490
- MN 55312 Legion Post #143MN 55312 Legion Post#143
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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 13424 Legion Post #1448NY 13424 Legion Post#1448
- NY 14738 Legion Post #947NY 14738 Legion Post#947
- NY 12486 Legion Post #1219NY 12486 Legion Post#1219
- NY 13160 Legion Post #1107NY 13160 Legion Post#1107
- NY 10312 Legion Post #391NY 10312 Legion Post#391
- NY 11757 Legion Post #1120NY 11757 Legion Post#1120
- NY 14804 Legion Post #370NY 14804 Legion Post#370
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 45385 Legion Post #95OH 45385 Legion Post#95
- OH 44855 Legion Post #706OH 44855 Legion Post#706
- OH 45898 Legion Post #207OH 45898 Legion Post#207
- OH 43451 Legion Post #725OH 43451 Legion Post#725
- OH 45832 Legion Post #208OH 45832 Legion Post#208
- OH 43560 Legion Post #468OH 43560 Legion Post#468
- OH 43719 Legion Post #90OH 43719 Legion Post#90
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 17043 Legion Post #945PA 17043 Legion Post#945
- PA 19116 Legion Post #166PA 19116 Legion Post#166
- PA 15110 Legion Post #448PA 15110 Legion Post#448
- PA 19012 Legion Post #497PA 19012 Legion Post#497
- PA 19136 Legion Post #178PA 19136 Legion Post#178
- PA 15714 Legion Post #508PA 15714 Legion Post#508
- PA 18504 Legion Post #920PA 18504 Legion Post#920
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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 54426 Legion Post #393WI 54426 Legion Post#393
- WI 53964 Legion Post #244WI 53964 Legion Post#244
- WI 53809 Legion Post #184WI 53809 Legion Post#184
- WI 53910 Legion Post #250WI 53910 Legion Post#250
- WI 53120 Legion Post #188WI 53120 Legion Post#188
- WI 54814 Legion Post #49WI 54814 Legion Post#49
- WI 53518 Legion Post #443WI 53518 Legion Post#443
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Wyoming
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