Who We Are
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. 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, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.
The American Legion's national headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana, with additional offices in Washington, DC. In addition to thousands of volunteers serving in leadership and program implementation capacities in local communities to the Legion's standing national commissions and committees, the national organization has a regular full-time staff of about 300 employees.
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Our National Commander
Martin "Marty" F. Conatser
National Commander
The American Legion
2007 - 2008
Martin F. Conatser of Champaign, Illinois was elected National Commander of the 2.7 million-member American Legion on August 30, 2007 in Reno, Nevada during the 89th National Convention of the nation’s largest veterans organization.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam era, Conatser joined the Illinois National Guard as an infantryman in 1970. He went on active duty in 1976 and held all positions in Army recruiting from Field Recruiter to Sergeant Major from which he retired in 1996.
He is a 25-year member of Lincoln American Legion Post #102 in DeLand, Ill. where he served as post commander and adjutant. Conatser has also served as District, Division and Department Membership Director and Commander. At the national level, he was on the Membership and Post Activities Committee and became its chairman in 2003. During 2004 and 2005 he chaired the National Legislative Commission.
Conatser has served as Chairman of the Piatt County Veterans Day Celebration for 12 years. He is a member of ANAVICUS, Past State Commanders Club, Masonic Lodge #812, AMVETS Post #4, Egyptian Past Commanders Club, Lincoln Challenge Academy Memorial Committee and the Dads Association of the University of Illinois.
Conatser resides in Champaign, Illinois with his wife, Sharon and is the father of three boys, Richard, Rick, and Bryan. Two daughters-in-law, a grandson, and two granddaughters are all members of the American Legion Family. The Conatsers are truly an active Legion Family.
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Our Department Commander
Dwight Earnest
Department Commander
The American Legion
2008 - 2009
Branch of Service: United States Air Force
Length of Service: 22 years
Era: Combat Veteran - Vietnam
Veterans Organizations: 22 Year Member of the American Legion. Member of Russellville Post 20
Offices, Committees & Appointments: Dwight served fourteen years as Post 20 Commander in Russellville. He also served as the 16th District Commander for four years and has served as the 16th District Executive Committeeman for ten years.
Contact our Commander: 1-877-243-9799 (toll free): Department Headquarters
1-501-375-1104: Department Headquarters
1-501-375-4236: Fax
Address:
Dwight Earnest, Commander
The American Legion
Department of Arkansas
P.O. Box 3280
Little Rock, AR 72203-3280
Dwight is married to Nora Louise Earnest. Nora is a active member of The American Legion Auxiliary and she has served as Unit President, District President and Department President.
