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: | |
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: | |
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 60435 Legion Post #241IL 60435 Legion Post#241
- IL 61262 Legion Post #1077IL 61262 Legion Post#1077
- IL 61402 Legion Post #285IL 61402 Legion Post#285
- IL 61650 Legion Post #2IL 61650 Legion Post#2
- IL 62244 Legion Post #1215IL 62244 Legion Post#1215
- IL 60303 Legion Post #692IL 60303 Legion Post#692
- IL 60631 Legion Post #777IL 60631 Legion Post#777
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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 56529 Legion Post #397MN 56529 Legion Post#397
- MN 55310 Legion Post #430MN 55310 Legion Post#430
- MN 56548 Legion Post #402MN 56548 Legion Post#402
- MN 56145 Legion Post #401MN 56145 Legion Post#401
- MN 55045 Legion Post #83MN 55045 Legion Post#83
- MN 56353 Legion Post #178MN 56353 Legion Post#178
- MN 56326 Legion Post #188MN 56326 Legion Post#188
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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 13480 Legion Post #92NY 13480 Legion Post#92
- NY 14569 Legion Post #532NY 14569 Legion Post#532
- NY 13069 Legion Post #587NY 13069 Legion Post#587
- NY 14580 Legion Post #942NY 14580 Legion Post#942
- NY 11220 Legion Post #1357NY 11220 Legion Post#1357
- NY 13905 Legion Post #1305NY 13905 Legion Post#1305
- NY 11716 Legion Post #1146NY 11716 Legion Post#1146
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North Carolina
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North Dakota
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Ohio
- OH 45877 Legion Post #616OH 45877 Legion Post#616
- OH 43953 Legion Post #557OH 43953 Legion Post#557
- OH 45895 Legion Post #330OH 45895 Legion Post#330
- OH 43549 Legion Post #680OH 43549 Legion Post#680
- OH 44260 Legion Post #452OH 44260 Legion Post#452
- OH 45882 Legion Post #508OH 45882 Legion Post#508
- OH 44645 Legion Post #718OH 44645 Legion Post#718
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
- PA 15012 Legion Post #659PA 15012 Legion Post#659
- PA 15742 Legion Post #435PA 15742 Legion Post#435
- PA 18344 Legion Post #903PA 18344 Legion Post#903
- PA 17959 Legion Post #677PA 17959 Legion Post#677
- PA 15014 Legion Post #226PA 15014 Legion Post#226
- PA 19115 Legion Post #686PA 19115 Legion Post#686
- PA 17834 Legion Post #231PA 17834 Legion Post#231
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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 54657 Legion Post #446WI 54657 Legion Post#446
- WI 53091 Legion Post #270WI 53091 Legion Post#270
- WI 54169 Legion Post #496WI 54169 Legion Post#496
- WI 54501 Legion Post #7WI 54501 Legion Post#7
- WI 53181 Legion Post #544WI 53181 Legion Post#544
- WI 54217 Legion Post #262WI 54217 Legion Post#262
- WI 53960 Legion Post #208WI 53960 Legion Post#208
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Wyoming
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