Eligibility
     
    Membership in the Auxiliary is limited to women who have direct personal connection with service in World Wars I and II, the Korean or Vietnam War, or conflicts in Grenada, Lebanon, Panama or the Persian Gulf War. This service is through a member of one?s own immediate family who served in the Armed Forces during those wars or conflicts, or through one?s own service with the Armed Forces. Upon establishment of eligibility, such women may become members of a local Unit of the Auxiliary. A member of a local Unit is also a member of the Department and the National Organization, just as a citizen of Chicago is also a citizen of Illinois and of the United States. By payment of dues in the local Unit, a member also contributes to the support of the Department and National Organization.

    All women who are eligible for membership in the Auxiliary fall into one of the following categories:

    1. The mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and grandmothers of members of The American Legion.
    2. The mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and grandmothers of those who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during any of the eligibility periods listed below and who died in the line of duty during such service, or who, having received an Honorable Discharge, died after such service.
    3. The mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and grandmothers of those who were citizens of the United States and who served during any of the eligibility periods listed below in the Armed Forces of any of the governments who were allies of the United States and who died in the line of duty during such service, or who, having received an Honorable Discharge, died after such service.
    4. Women who are eligible for membership in The American Legion in their own right.
    This eligibility includes step-relatives.

    ELIGIBILITY PERIODS
    World War I            April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918
    World War II            December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
    Korean War            June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955
    Vietnam War               February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975
    Lebanon/Grenada       August 24, 1982 to July 31, 1990
    Panama                   December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
    Persian Gulf            August 2, 1990 to date of cessation

    Information on a veteran?s service record can be obtained from:
        Military Personnel Records Center
        9700 Page Blvd.
        St. Louis, MO 63132

    General information and operator assistance: (314) 263-1100 To request records for:
        Navy (314) 538-4147-4142
        Army (314) 538-4122/4222
        Air Force (314) 538-4218

    The only authorized form of membership is active membership, of which there are two classes ? Senior and Junior. Granting special or honorary membership for any purpose or reason whatsoever is prohibited.

    Junior members are defined as that group under the age of eighteen years. Upon reaching eighteen years of age, Junior members shall automatically be admitted into Senior membership with full privileges. However, a member under the age of eighteen years who is married shall be classified as a Senior member.

    Once accepted as Auxiliary members, women eligible under classification (1) may continue their membership from year to year whether or not their veteran relatives continue membership in The American Legion. The fact that a member?s service relative is no longer a member of The American Legion does not compel the Auxiliary member to lose her Auxiliary membership.

    The phrase "died in the line of duty", applies to all those persons who were killed in action, died of wounds or disease, were killed by accident or otherwise came to their death other than as a result of their own misconduct. In case of doubt, the Adjutant General of the Army, or the Navy Department, Washington, D.C., can advise if the person was considered to have died in the line of duty.

    The term "wife" as used in the eligibility clause, does not necessarily mean the wife occupied that status at the time her husband was in war service. Any woman who marries a member of The American Legion at any time is eligible for membership in the Auxiliary. The term ?wife? also includes widows.

    In 1970, by Constitutional action of The American Legion, granddaughters were first admitted to membership.

    In 1987, by Constitutional action of The American Legion, great-granddaughters were admitted to membership.

    In 1995, by Constitutional action of The American Legion, grandmothers were admitted to membership.

     

     

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