The American Legion
The World's Largest Veterans Organization
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans
organization. A community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -
- men and women in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide.
These Posts are organized into 55 Departments, one each for the 50 states,
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.
The American Legion's national headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana, with additional offices in
Washington, DC. In addition to thousands of volunteers serving in leadership and program implementation
capacities in local communities to the Legion's standing national commissions and committees,
the national organization has a regular full-time staff of about 300 employees.
How can you become a member of The American Legion?
Membership eligibility is based on honorable service with the U.S. Armed Forces between:
April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918 (World War I)
June 25, 1950 and January 31, 1955 (Korean War)
December 22, 1961 and May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)
August 24, 1982 and July 31, 1984 (Lebanon/Grenada)
December 20, 1989 and January 31, 1990 (Operation Just Cause - Panama)
*August 2, 1990 until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States
(Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm)
*Because eligibility dates remain open, all members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to
join The American Legion at this time.
Your local Veteran's Agent will have information of a Post near you.