The American Legion Family of Post 38 consists of Members of The American Legion (TAL), Members of the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) and Members of the Sons of The American Legion (SAL). Won't you consider joining our family?
American Legion membership eligibility, since its founding in 1919, is determined by Congress through the establishment of specific dates of declared hostilities in which U.S. military personnel were activated. The American Legion believes that membership in the organization should be extended to ALL U.S. military personnel who served on active duty during the hostile events that are not seen as a period of war. To extend membership eligibility, it literally will take an Act of Congress. At present time, there is a Bill before Congress, call the Legion Act, to change and open up eligibility requirements to join the American Legion. *Read additional information below.
Join The American Legion (TAL) & become a Legionnaire
Membership is open only to men and women who served active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during specific periods designated as “war time” by the U.S. Congress, and who have received an honorable discharge, or are still serving honorably. See eligibility dates below.
Join The Sons of the American Legion (SAL)
S.A.L. members include males of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the U.S. military and were eligible for American Legion membership. All male descendants, adopted sons and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of veterans who died in Service during World I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf War and the War on Terrorism, during the delimiting periods set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of The American Legion, or who died after their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for Membership in the Sons of The American Legion.
Join The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA)
Membership in the American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to the grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, and direct and adopted female descendants of the members of the American Legion, and to the grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who were in the Armed Forces of the U.S. during any of the eligibility dates listed below, and died in the line of duty during such service, or who having received an Honorable Discharge, died after service.
A woman who is eligible herself to join The American Legion is also eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary regardless of whethere or not she is a member of The American Legion. However, eligibility of her relatives (spouse, sister, mother, direct female decedents) depend upon her membership in the American Legion.
MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY DATES
based on honorable service with the U. S. Armed Forces between:
April 6, 1917 -November 11, 1918) World War I
Anytime served after December 7, 1941 -
A bill expanding membership eligibility for The American Legion passed on June 11 by unanimous consent in the Senate. The Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service Act — also known as the LEGION Act — is a bipartisan effort introduced by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
Because The American Legion’s membership periods are congressionally chartered, the organization is prevented from expanding membership eligibility without an act of Congress. The act expands membership eligibility to honorably discharged veterans who have served in unrecognized times of war since World War II.
The LEGION Act was a focus of American Legion National Commander Brett Reistad’s Feb. 27 testimony before a joint hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs. He called on Congress to take action amending the charter, thereby giving tens of thousands of veterans access to American Legion benefits and programs they are not currently eligible for.
“Nearly 1,600 brave American men and women were killed or wounded since World War II, while defending our nation during times not officially recognized as periods of war by the U.S. government,” American Legion National Commander Brett P. Reistad said during his testimony. “These veterans are unable to receive some of the benefits and recognition available to their counterparts who served during official wartime periods."
When the LEGION Act was introduced Feb. 14 in the Senate, Sinema said, “The American Legion provides critical resources to our veterans, but currently, only veterans who served during formally recognized conflicts can belong to the Legion. That restriction leaves out thousands of former American servicemembers who signed up to defend our country. Our legislation rights this wrong and ensures veterans have the opportunity to join the American Legion.”
The Legion Act was signed into law on July 30, 2019 by President Trump.