American Legion Membership Requirements
Eligibility
Eligibility for membership in The American Legion is set forth as follows:
Any person who was a member of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard and assigned to active duty at some time during any of the following periods:
- served on federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces since December 7, 1941, and have been honorably discharged or are still serving;
- served at least one day on active duty since December 7, 1941 until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States;
- U.S. Merchant Marine eligible only from December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 (WWII).
All above dates inclusive, or who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of his entry therein, served on active duty in the armed forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during any of said periods; provided, however, that such service shall have been terminated by honorable discharge or honorable separation, or continued honorably after any of said periods; provided further, that no person shall be entitled to membership who, being in such service during any of said periods, refused on conscientious, political or other grounds to subject himself to military discipline or unqualified service.
Documents
The following is required to apply for American Legion Membership:
- American Legion Membership Application (Download)
- DD 214/discharge/Other acceptable documentation (SSN marked out/redacted)
- Dues payment, currently $35 annually. New Legion Members 1st Year $25. Active Duty Military 1st Year Free.)
- Renewals go here https://www.legion.org/renew or download an application to send in with dues payment.
The American Legion - Francis Scott Key Post 11
1450 Taney Avenue, Frederick, MD 21702
The American Legion Family
The term, “American Legion Family,” is used consistently during your American Legion Experience. We consider all Programs associated with The American Legion as part of our family. That is one of the reasons that our facility is known as the Post Home, rather than Club, Bar, Lounge, etc. FSK Post 11 Post Home is family friendly and family use encouraged. The American Legion Family consists of The American Legion, Legion Programs Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders, and sister organization the American Legion Auxiliary. Nationally, The American Legion Family consists of nearly 3 million members.
Sons of The American Legion
Founded in 1932, Sons of The American Legion (SAL) exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires. 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 War I or since December 7, 1941, during the delimiting periods set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of The American Legion or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion. There shall be no form or class of membership except an active membership.
For more details about Sons of The American Legion and FSK Squadron 11, refer to the Sons of the American Legion Page.
American Legion Riders
In Garden City, Mich., in 1993, Chuck "Tramp" Dare and Bill "Polka" Kaledas, commander of American Legion Post 396, shared an idea to start a motorcycle enthusiasts association within the organization. The two longtime riders wanted an environment where Legion family members could come together to share a common love for motorcycles.
Dare and Kaledas wrote a letter to Michigan Department Adjutant Hubert Hess, sharing their idea. Hess replied that he liked the concept and wanted to pursue it. Later, he gave Kaledas and Dare instructions for managing the program at the post level. He also explained how they could be approved to use the American Legion emblem, and how to gain Membership's support and recognition. At a regular meeting, Post 396 members passed a resolution for a new program to be known as the "American Legion Riders."
Joined by 19 other founding members from their post, Dare and Kaledas were flooded with requests for information about their organization. They agreed to establish a central source for the Riders to ensure that chapters formed not as motorcycle clubs or gangs, but as Legionnaires and Auxiliary and SAL members joining to ride as Legion family. The American Legion established the National Riders Program on October 17-18, 2007.
American Legion Riders (ALR) chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children's hospitals, schools, veterans homes, severely wounded service members and scholarships. Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in The American Legion Legacy Run to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.
All American Legion Rider groups must be a program supported by a Post or Department of The American Legion and shall uphold the declared principles of The American Legion as well as conform to and abide by the regulations and decisions of the Department, Post or other duly constituted Department governing body.
While each Legion Riders Chapter is entitled to their own rules, the following guidelines are recommended for The American Legion Riders Program of The American Legion:
- All members of The ALR shall be current members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion
- Each ALR member shall establish and maintain membership by owning, individually or through marriage, a motorcycle licensed and insured as required by state law
- ALR programs may allow for continued membership for those members who have given up motorcycle ownership because of age, illness, injury, or other reasons outside the member's control
FSK Post 11 American Legion Riders is very active, and a vital part of our American Legion Family. For more details about Sons of The American Legion Riders and FSK Post 11 Riders, refer to the American Legion Riders Page.
American Legion Auxiliary
Founded in 1919, The American Legion Auxiliary has nearly 1 million members from all walks of life. The Auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and to veterans, and raises millions of dollars to support its own programs, as well as other worthwhile charities familiar to Americans. It is all accomplished with volunteers.
While originally organized to assist The American Legion, the Auxiliary has achieved its own unique identity while working side-by-side with the veterans who belong to The American Legion. Like the Legion, the Auxiliary’s interests have broadened to encompass the entire
community.
The American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. Through its nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it solidly stands behind America and her ideals.
Eligibility Requirements for American Legion Auxiliary Membership
Eligibility for membership in the American Legion Auxiliary is determined by The American Legion. The eligibility requirements from The American Legion governing documents shall be provided as a footnote to this Constitution for information purposes and shall be updated as appropriate.
Membership in The American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to the:
- grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion; and
- grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who served in either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918 and any time after December 7, 1941 who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry therein served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge;
- grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and any time after December 7, 1941 who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge; and
- to those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in The American Legion.
For more details about the American Legion Auxiliary and FSK Unit 11, refer to the American Legion Auxiliary Page.
