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

Membership in the American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to the grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, and direct and adopted female descendants of 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 United States during any of the following periods and died in the line of duty during such service, or who, having received an Honorable Discharge, died after service:

• • Persian Gulf / War on Terrorism: *August 2, 1990 to present
• • Operation Just Cause - Panama: December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
• • Lebanon/Grenada: August 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984
• • Vietnam: February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975
• • Korea: June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955
• • World War II: **December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
• • World War I: April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918

*Because eligibility dates remain open, all members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to join The American Legion at this time, until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States.

**Exception: U.S. Merchant Marine eligibility dates: December 7, 1941 to August 16, 1945

The Sons organization is divided into detachments at the state level and squadrons at the local level. A squadron pairs with a local American Legion post; a squadron’s charter is contingent upon its parent post’s charter. However, squadrons can determine the extent of their services to the community, state and nation. They are permitted flexibility in planning programs and activities to meet their needs, but must remember S.A.L.’s mission: to strengthen the four pillars of The American Legion. Therefore, squadrons’ campaigns place an emphasis on preserving American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship.

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.

• • Persian Gulf / War on Terrorism: *August 2, 1990 to present
• • Operation Just Cause - Panama: December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
• • Lebanon/Grenada: August 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984
• • Vietnam: February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975
• • Korea: June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955
• • World War II: **December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
• • World War I: April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918

*Because eligibility dates remain open, all members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to join The American Legion at this time, until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States.

**Exception: U.S. Merchant Marine eligibility dates: December 7, 1941 to August 16, 1945

American Legion Riders 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 servicemembers 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.

The following guidelines are recommended for The ALR program of The American Legion:

• • All members of The American Legion Riders 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