The American was founded in Paris March 15-17, 1919........ The American Legion is a community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -  - men and women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. These Posts are organized into 55 Departments -- one each for the 50 states, and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.    You must have served at least one day on active duty during the dates marked bellow; and was honorably discharged or still serving honorable.