ARTICLE I - NAME

Section 1.     The name of this organization shall be Frederick Dempsey Post No. 266, The American Legion, Department of New Jersey.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTS

Section 1.     The objects and purposes of this Post shall be to promote the principles and policies as set forth in the forgoing preamble, and the National and Department of New Jersey Constitutions of The American Legion.

ARTICLE III - NATURE

Section 1.      This Post is a civilian organization and membership therein does not affect nor increase liability for military or police service.

Section 2.      This organization shall be absolutly non-political and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment. No candidate for nomination or election to, or no incumbent of, any remunerative elective public office, shall hold any elective office of any appointive remunerative office in this Post of The American Legion, provided that members of the Post standing committees shall not be affected.

Section 3.      Rank does not exist in The American Legion; no member shall be addressed by military title in any meeting of this Post.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP (Amended 7/14/03)

Section 1.      Eligibility for membership in this Post shall be as prescribed by the National Constitution of the American Legion and this Constitution.

Any person shall be eligible for membership in the American Legion who was a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard of The United States. **Some Merchant Marines may be eligible for membership. They all must submit a DD Form 214 for verification. All of these persons must have been on active duty at some time during any of the following periods:

PERIOD                                  FROM                                          UNTIL

World War I                            April 6, 1917                               November 11, 1918

World War II                           December 7, 1941                      December 31, 1946

Korea War                              June 25, 1950                             January 31, 1955

Vietnam War                          February 28, 1961                       May 7, 1975

Lebanon/Grenada                 August 24, 1982                          July 31, 1984

Panama                                 December 20, 1989                     January 31, 1990

Gulf War/War on Terrorism  August 2, 1990                            Present

**Merchant Marines              December 7, 1941                       December 31, 1946

All dates are inclusive, or who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry into service, served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any government associated with the United States during any of the said periods, provided, however, that such service shall have been terminated by Honorable discharge or Honorable separation, or continued to serve honorably after any of the said periods; provided further, that no person shall be entitled to membership who, being in such service during any of the said periods, refused on conscientious, political, or other grounds to subject themselves to military discipline or unqualified service. In addition, all active duty members of the United States Armed Forces are eligible to join the American Legion, provided any part of their service occurred during one of the eligibility periods.