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Damascus American Legion Post 171

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Membership Requirements

Click on above logo WHY YOU SHOULD BELONG

Join Damascus American Legion Post 171

Contact: Sam Baughman    Email: membership@legionpost171.org   Phone: (301) 253-0769

New Membership

Eligible veterans applying for first time membership must submit the following information to Post Membership Committee:

  1. Complete American Legion Membership Application.

    Print two (2) completed copies.  Keep one copy for your records. Mail the other copy to above address, together with your dues payment. (Dues amount on application).  Applications are also available at the Post.)
     
  2. Provide a copy of your DD214 discharge.
     
  3. Pay the membership dues (amount shown on application). Make checks payable to our Post listed above. DO NOT SEND CASH.
     
  4. If the information is correct, membership will be approved and then a membership card will be mailed to you.
     
  5. Please see eligibility dates below.
     
  6. Membership dues payment, if current year dues are not paid. If current dues are paid, please pay dues for next year's membership.

Transfers

Veterans applying for transfers from your current Post to our Post must submit the following:

  1. Complete American Legion Membership Application.
     
  2. Provide a copy of your DD214 discharge.
     
  3. Provide a copy of your membership card.
     
  4. Membership dues payment, if current year dues are not paid. If current dues are paid, please pay dues for next year's membership.

 

The LEGION ACT

Previous membership eligibility in the American Legion was based on honorable service with the U. S. Armed Forces between:

(April 6, 1917 -November 11, 1918) World War I
(December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946) World War II
(June 25, 1950 - January 31, 1955) Korean War
(February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975) Vietnam War
(August 24, 1982 - July 31,1984) Lebanon/Grenada
(December 20, 1989 - January 31, 1990) Operation Just Cause
(August 2, 1990 - Today)* Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm

The LEGION Act (Public Law 116-35) was signed on 30 July 2019, and opens the door for millions of veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had not been eligible.

The gaps in the war eras were largely during the Cold War, a time when threats to U.S. national security was real, especially to the men and women serving in uniform. Overall, about 1,600 U.S. servicemembers were killed or wounded in hostile operations during periods that were not previously recognized as times of war by the federal government.

American Legion National Commander Brett P. Reistad said, we are proud to welcome any of the six million living veterans from the previously unrecognized periods into our organization and call them 'Legionnaires.'

American Legion membership applications are in the process of being updated but can still be used. In the meantime, it is recommend that prospective Legionnaires and recruiters write 'LEGION Act' in the eligibility date section of American Legion membership applications if they fall outside the previous war eras, Commander Reistad said. The larger pool of veterans now eligible for The American Legion will also open their family members to eligibility in the Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary as well.

For any questions please contact our membership chairman, or stop at the Post.

Click on the gold star "Application" menu button for an online application form.