The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. The American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11 is a registered 501(c)(19) patriotic Veteran Organization committed to serving our Nation.
The American Legion is the nation’s most influential, effective and dependable advocate of veteran affairs fighting for better active-duty pay, improved housing for active-duty families and helping to ensure that the VA’s medical system can properly care for veterans.
In order to protect America, troops and their families must have support. The American Legion plays a vital role in supporting those who protect our freedoms. American Legion posts adopt military units, deliver care packages, provide support for families of deployed service members and welcome the troops home.
Current Members
Your membership is not based on the day you joined, but the calendar year, regardless of the day you signed up. Ensure you renew your membership before it expires at the end of the calendar year. This will allow us to continue working our great programs with the increased per capita received, and our voice on Capitol Hill grows even stronger than it is today.
New Members
Eligibility Requirements
Any person shall be eligible for membership in The American Legion who have served at least one day of active military duty since December 7, 1941 as a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, or the Space Force of the United States (this includes the Reserves, National Guard, & Merchant Marines) and were honorably discharged or you are currently serving active military duty honorably.
Application Process
Eligible veterans applying for first time membership must submit the following information to the Tri-Lakes Post 9-11 Membership Committee:
1. Print and complete The American Legion membership application CLICK HERE
2. Prepare an annual dues check for $45.00 payable to American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11.
3. If you are currently on Active Duty, present your valid military identification card (Common Access Card) at the Post, otherwise, provide a copy of your DD214 to ascertain membership eligibility. Please black-out your Social Security Number on the copy.
Mail the application and dues to:
American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11
PO Box 2308
Monument, CO 80132
Acceptable Proof of Service Documentation
• Form DD214 (Official Release or Discharge from Active Duty certificate)
• Form DD256 (Official “Honorable Discharge” certificate) must indicate a period of active duty service dates
• Current or former military ID card
4. If the information is correct, membership will be approved and then a membership card will be provided to you.
Transfers
Requirements
Veterans applying for transfers from their current Post to Post 9-11 must get approval prior to submission of the following:
1. Completed Member Data Form
2. Copy of your DD 214 (SSN blocked out)
3. Copy of your current Membership Card
4. The annual membership dues for American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11 is currently $45.00. Send Membership Dues payment if the current year’s dues have not been paid. If the current dues have been paid, please pay dues for next year’s membership.
Please send email to all 3 addressees:
MikeC@Tri-LakesPost9-11.org
Terri@Tri-LakesPost9-11.org
MikeH@Tri-LakesPost9-11.org
Join the The American Legion Auxiliary
If you know which unit you would like to join, go HERE.
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 do 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:
a. DD-214 Discharge Papers (not issued until after the Korean War)
b. Official Military Orders
c. Official Military Service Citations/Awards
d. Letters related to the veteran’s military service. Must be on official government letterhead
e. Certificate from the VA records center in St. Louis
f. Data from the back of older discharges
*DD-214 Discharge Papers can be requested online by visiting www.archives.gov
Join Sons of The American Legion
Tri-Lakes Post 9-11 does not currently have a Sons of The American Legion division. You may still find one in the area by contacting the SAL National Headquarters below. If you would like to be put on a list of people to contact when reinstated, email Terri@Tri-LakesPost9-11.org.
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 the period of April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918, or any time from December 7, 1941, to date, who served honorably, as 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.
* Membership applications can be delivered to an American Legion Post near you. There is a good chance that Post will have its own Squadron. If not, someone at the Post should be able to tell you where to find a Squadron near you. You can always contact SAL National Headquarters for information about finding a nearby Squadron.
To be eligible for membership in The American Legion, you need to have been assigned to at least one day of federal active duty service at any time during the eligibility periods as determined by U.S. Government and received an honorable discharge/discharge under honorable conditions or currently serving in one of the U.S. Armed Forces. Are you eligible? Here are a few frequently asked questions regarding American Legion eligibility. For any other eligibility questions, contact National Headquarters at membership@legion.org or 317-630-1321.
I'm currently on Active Duty. Am I eligible?
Yes. The current eligibility period is from August 1990 to the present and includes the current war campaigns. All current active duty military are eligible for membership at a discounted annual membership rate.
I didn't retire from the military but was on active duty during one of the qualifying periods. Am I eligible?
Yes. You are eligible for membership if you have served at least one day of federal active duty during any qualifying period.
I served during one of the qualifying periods but was never in a combat zone. Am I eligible?
I am currently in the National Guard / Reserve. My unit was activated under Title 10 orders during a qualifying period. Am I eligible?
My National Guard unit was activated for crowd control under Title 32 orders during one of the qualifying periods. Am I eligible?
I am currently a cadet at one of the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force, or Coast Guard Academies. Am I eligible?
Yes. The American Legion has considered service in the military academies eligible for membership since WWI.
Can I be an honorary or social member of The American Legion?
I served my entire military career in the National Guard / Reserves, and I only have a DD-214 from my Active Duty for Training that I was in during one of the qualifying dates. Am I eligible?
I served active duty as a SPAR, WAC, WASP, or WAVES during one of the qualifying periods. Am I eligible?
I served with Allied military forces during one of the qualifying periods. Am I eligible?
I served with the Civil Air Patrol / Civilian Technical Corps / USPHS as a civilian during two qualifying periods. Am I eligible?
I enlisted and went to basic training but received an uncharacterized discharge due to a medical condition. Am I eligible?
I am eligible for The American Legion but do not have a copy of my DD-214 to show as proof of eligibility. How can I get one?
I need my 9-digit Member ID number to take advantage of member benefits or access some online features. If I don't know my number, where can I find it?
Can I submit an address change online?
You can also set up a myLegion account and manage your membership information anytime. The myLegion site allows members to see their information on file at National Headquarters, view messages and events published through the Department and post myLegion sites, and even network with other myLegion members using networking tools. Go to legion.org and look for the myLegion.org link to get started.
I submitted an address change a month ago, but my latest magazine issue went to the old address. What happened?
I belong to a local post and renewed my membership online. When will I get my membership card?
I received a membership invitation in the mail saying I can join online at a website shown on the application. If I join online, will I still get my membership card and the gift mentioned in the letter?
If I join online or submit a membership application to National Headquarters, will I belong to a local Post?
How do I transfer my membership to another Post?
Why doesn't my membership card reflect the total number of years I've been a member?
How much does renting a Post for a special event, like a birthday or reception cost?
When does my membership expire?
I paid my dues a while ago, so why did I get another renewal notice?
If you look at the bottom right-hand corner of the renewal notice, you’ll see there is an “as of” date, which tells you when the notice was printed. If you paid your dues sometime around that date, your dues and the renewal probably just crossed in the mail, and you shouldn’t receive another one for that membership year. But, if you paid well in advance of that “as of” date, then you should contact your Post Adjutant to verify the status of your renewal payment.
Are there any death benefits available from The American Legion?
Hartford Life
1-800-542-5547
Union Fidelity
1-800-523-5758
Globe Life
1-800-654-5433
Additionally, some Departments (States) offer a free $1000 accidental death benefit with a paid membership, which is also separate from the National Organization. You need to contact the member’s Department Headquarters to inquire about a possible death benefit; you can find a listing of the Department offices on our website at www.legion.org/membershipmanagement.
You should also contact the Veterans Administration at 1-800-827-1000 to see if there would be a death benefit due to the veteran’s military service.
How can I get help with my V.A. claim?
How can I find a local post?
How much is a lifetime membership?
I never served in the military, but can I still join? I served on active duty, but my dates of service don't appear on your membership application. My family member served on active duty, so can I join under their service?
Congress chartered the American Legion in 1919 as an organization for wartime veterans. Membership is open only to men and women who served active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during specific periods designated as “war time” by the U.S. Congress and who have received an honorable discharge or are still serving honorably. Eligible veterans could provide a Form DD-214 (or similar) to verify their eligibility. If you don’t meet these requirements, we’re sorry, but you’re not eligible for membership.
You may be able to join one of the other organizations in the “Legion Family.”– The Sons of The American Legion (SAL) is comprised of male descendants, adopted sons, and step-sons of American Legion members. (There are no age limitations.)
– Our sister organization is the American Legion Auxiliary. Eligibility is open to mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, or grandmothers of members of The American Legion or of deceased veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during the listed war eras. (Women eligible for membership in The American Legion are also eligible to join the Auxiliary.)