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 60469 Legion Post #990IL 60469 Legion Post#990
- IL 62013 Legion Post #685IL 62013 Legion Post#685
- IL 61204 Legion Post #200IL 61204 Legion Post#200
- IL 60194 Legion Post #1983IL 60194 Legion Post#1983
- IL 62282 Legion Post #683IL 62282 Legion Post#683
- IL 60446 Legion Post #52IL 60446 Legion Post#52
- IL 60079 Legion Post #281IL 60079 Legion Post#281
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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 56232 Legion Post #177MN 56232 Legion Post#177
- MN 55731 Legion Post #248MN 55731 Legion Post#248
- MN 56552 Legion Post #13MN 56552 Legion Post#13
- MN 56661 Legion Post #499MN 56661 Legion Post#499
- MN 56584 Legion Post #431MN 56584 Legion Post#431
- MN 56757 Legion Post #390MN 56757 Legion Post#390
- MN 55372 Legion Post #447MN 55372 Legion Post#447
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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 13808 Legion Post #1135NY 13808 Legion Post#1135
- NY 14001 Legion Post #900NY 14001 Legion Post#900
- NY 11727 Legion Post #1633NY 11727 Legion Post#1633
- NY 14738 Legion Post #556NY 14738 Legion Post#556
- NY 13135 Legion Post #418NY 13135 Legion Post#418
- NY 13607 Legion Post #904NY 13607 Legion Post#904
- NY 13335 Legion Post #1311NY 13335 Legion Post#1311
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 45891 Legion Post #178OH 45891 Legion Post#178
- OH 44663 Legion Post #139OH 44663 Legion Post#139
- OH 45318 Legion Post #80OH 45318 Legion Post#80
- OH 43113 Legion Post #134OH 43113 Legion Post#134
- OH 45171 Legion Post #755OH 45171 Legion Post#755
- OH 44681 Legion Post #494OH 44681 Legion Post#494
- OH 45845 Legion Post #355OH 45845 Legion Post#355
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15235 Legion Post #715PA 15235 Legion Post#715
- PA 16030 Legion Post #598PA 16030 Legion Post#598
- PA 15560 Legion Post #911PA 15560 Legion Post#911
- PA 15228 Legion Post #156PA 15228 Legion Post#156
- PA 19145 Legion Post #846PA 19145 Legion Post#846
- PA 15625 Legion Post #53PA 15625 Legion Post#53
- PA 16939 Legion Post #167PA 16939 Legion Post#167
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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 53031 Legion Post #345WI 53031 Legion Post#345
- WI 53075 Legion Post #462WI 53075 Legion Post#462
- WI 53011 Legion Post #386WI 53011 Legion Post#386
- WI 53073 Legion Post #484WI 53073 Legion Post#484
- WI 53001 Legion Post #193WI 53001 Legion Post#193
- WI 54129 Legion Post #127WI 54129 Legion Post#127
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Wyoming
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