Membership
The American Legion Family
Become a Legion Member
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s 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. The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.
Eligibility
The Congress of the United States just enacted into law new Legion Membership rules. In the past to be a Legion Member you had to have served in a time that the armed forces of the United States were engaged in armed conflict. The new eligibility is anyone who served from December 7, 1941 to the current day is eligible to join the American Legion.
Here’s How To Join:
Print a copy of the American Legion application. (Application Form (PDF))
Complete all areas of the application, and include a copy of your DD214 with the application.
Annual dues of $45 must accompany the application.
The application, DD214 copy and dues can be mailed to the address below or you can drop them off in the members lounge at Post 1645.
Checks should be made out to American Legion Post 1645, and mailed to:
American Legion Post 1645
Attn: Membership
177 Robinson St, Binghamton, NY 13904
Benefits of Membership
Official Membership Card
Post 1645 Lounge admission
12 Issues of The American Legion Magazine
Exclusive Member Discounts and Benefits
Access to Legion scholarships and programs
Need to request your DD 214/Separation Documents?
Visit the National Archives for service record requests
Become an Auxiliary Member
Mission Statement
In the spirit of Service, Not Self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.
Vision Statement
The vision of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion while becoming the premier service organization and foundation of every community providing support for our veterans, our military, and their families by shaping a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace and security.
Why We Matter
Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary, with nearly three-quarters of a million members, it is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization and one of the nation’s most prominent supporters of veterans, military, and their families. ALA members volunteer millions of hours annually, with a value averaging $2 billion each year. From helping to draft the GI Bill in 1944 to advocating for veterans on Capitol Hill, The American Legion Family has been instrumental in advancing legislation that improves the quality of life for our nation’s veterans. To learn more and get involved, we encourage you to browse our expansive website!
Here’s How to Join The American Legion Auxiliary:
To be considered for the American Legion Auxiliary, an applicant must have the following relationship to a veteran and the veteran, living or deceased, must have served during the periods listed below:
Aug. 2, 1990 to today (Persian Gulf War / War on Terrorism)
Aug. 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984 (Lebanon / Grenada)
Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990 (Operation Just Cause - Panama)
Feb. 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)
June 25, 1950 to Jan. 31, 1955 (Korean War)
Dec. 7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946 (World War II)
April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918 (World War I)
Wife
Mother
Sister
Daughter
Grand-daughter
Great Grand Daughter
Grandmother
Self
And Step Relatives
Print a copy of the application. (Auxiliary Application Form (PDF))
- Obtain proof of your eligibility. Note: If the person who provides your eligibility is living, they must be a current member of The American Legion and eligibility documentation is likely not necessary; however you will need to provide his or her American Legion member ID number and Post information on your application.
- If the person who provides your eligibility is deceased, acceptable eligibility documents include
- DD-214 Discharge Papers (not issued until after the Korean War)
Official Military Orders - Official Military Service Citations/Awards
- Letters related to the veteran’s military service. Must be on official government letterhead
- Certificate from the VA records center in St. Louis
- Data from the back of older discharges
- DD-214 Discharge Papers can be requested online by visiting www.archives.gov
Annual Auxiliary dues of $23.00 must accompany your application with proof of the Veterans service and can be mailed to the address below or you can drop them off at the member lounge at Post 1645.
Please make checks payable to American Legion Auxiliary Post 1645 and mail to:
American Legion Auxiliary Post 1645
PO Box 3069
Binghamton, NY 13902
Attn: Aux Membership
Join Sons of The American Legion
Eligibility Requirements
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 subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for Membership in the Sons of The American Legion.
Print a copy of the application (Sons Application Form PDF)
1. Complete all areas of the application.
2. You must provide proof of the Veterans service (DD214 or other proof of military service or the ID# of an active
American Legion Member)
3. Annual dues of $15 must accompany the application.
4. The application, annual dues and proof of the Veterans service can be mailed to the address below or you can drop
them off in the members lounge at Post 1645.
Checks should be made to: Sons of the American Legion Post 1645.
American Legion Post 1645
Attn: Sons Membership
177 Robinson St
Binghamton, NY 13904
American Legion Riders
Currently, over 110,000 American Legion Riders meet in over 2,000 chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. Riders in Iowa have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders, and Riders in Mulvane, Kan., founded the Patriot Guard to protect the sanctity of military funerals from protesters. Riders in all states have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted massive cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars for countless local, state and national charities. Many Riders, supported by their departments, conduct annual statewide Legacy Runs in direct support of American Legion scholarship programs of Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), supporting our wounded servicemembers across the nation.
To join the American Legion Riders you must first be an active member of The American Legion, Sons of the American Legion or American Legion Auxiliary.
Print a copy of the application (American Legion Riders Form PDF)