The American Legion Department of Illinois

06/14/2026

The Department of Illinois American Legion Family is always thrilled to help sponsor Special Olympics Illinois!

Please share your volunteer photos with us here or feel free to email them to [email protected] so we can share them in our publications and image event pages!

Thank you all for another successful Summer Games at Illinois State University

06/01/2026

If you are having an issue booking with the State House Inn call the direct line (217)528-5100 and use group code 070626AME. If you continue to have an issue ask to speak to Mr. Kahn.

also follow this link

Experience our landmark, independent hotel in Springfield, IL with a stay at State House Inn, Trademark Collection by Wyndham. Book your trip today.

05/29/2026

Please get the word out that the convention housing cut off is June 16, 2026. The State House Hotel has only received 15 reservations so far out of the 1st and 4th Divisions. Unfortunately, not everyone can stay at the President Abraham Lincoln, there’s just not enough rooms! PLEASE encourage your officers and members to book their room for convention asap, otherwise the Department will incur additional expenses.

05/18/2026

VENDORS NEEDED for JUNE 6th for our STEPS OF HONOR: VETERANS RIVERWALK WALKATHON at VETERANS PARK!!
Please text Susan at 312.485.5074 or email at [email protected].

05/11/2026

If you get an email from Wayne that looks like this it is a scam. It usually starts with a question asking for your assistance then they send you this. The email address is not Wayne’s though it is close.

04/24/2026

ENVELOPE STUFFING IS DONE. Thank you to Post 79 in Leroy for hosting the volunteers. Thank you to all the volunteers that came out 80,000 envelopes stuffed in 2 week. Please pass this around call your posts units and squadrons let them know so if anyone planned on coming next week they do not make an unnecessary trip.

04/22/2026

Our deepest condolences to Mike Monroe with the passing of his daughter. The department headquarters will be closed tomorrow, April 23, so the staff can attend the funeral.

View Angela Marie Weidner's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

04/07/2026

The American Legion Department of Illinois Family since last year has gone away from using a third party to handle our sweepstakes. Thanks to this decision we have seen an increase in our profitability allowing us to provide better funding to our programs. Part of this switch is to cut costs, but we need more volunteers to assist in envelope stuffing.

We are now getting ready for our Convention Sweepstakes. We need all the help we can get. This sweepstakes has more than 80,000 envelopes to be stuffed. We plan to start stuffing envelopes on April 13, 2026. We will be stuffing them from 9am – 3:30pm, Monday – Friday, for approximately three weeks. Lunch will be provided by the department during this period. ALL envelope stuffing will be done at Ruel Neal Post 79 in Leroy, IL.

Reach out to your posts/units/squadrons as there may be members who have not been here and would like to see what is going on. Promote the fact that we are doing this as a cost saving measure and the more money it raises it can help keep our programs going. This is also a great opportunity to meet and conversate with other members you may not talk to or see on a regular basis, maybe even a new member just wanting to help.

It is understandable that not everyone can help every day or even all day but at least consider coming in and helping for a few hours. We are a family and all the times we have done this everyone has had a great time with each other. Come down to Leroy, meet the rest of your extended family, have some lunch, and accomplish this goal together.

Please email Mark Young ([email protected]) and let him know what day(s) and times you can help. Also include a cell phone number and email address of anyone volunteering so a reminder can be sent out as those dates get closer.

04/06/2026

"Joliet Bands at Symphony Center Concert" at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 15th. Joliet Central and Joliet West Symphonic bands and the Joliet American Legion Band will perform.

Folks will need to go to the band's web site to purchase tickets using the DONATE button, then email our President, Donna Virklan to let her know of the purchase. We will have the tickets ready for pickup at the Will Call table on April 15th.

It's wonderful to hear that Commander Roy Smith and the other American Legionnaires will be in the Chicago area from April 13th to April 16th, and specifically in Chicago on April 15th visiting the Chicago Veterans Home! We hope they can join us at Symphony Center for the concert!

Follow the process below to purchase tickets.
1. Go to: https://jolietamericanlegionband.com
• Click menu button in the upper left corner of screen (3 lines)
• Click DONATE
• Click SUPPORT THE BAND
• Enter amount for tickets needed ($25 x # of tickets)
• In the Notes field, type “Donation in exchange for # of ticket(s) to April 15th concert
• Fill in Payment information and Billing Information
• Click Pay button.
2. Email President, Donna Virklan: [email protected]
• Inform Donna that you purchased # of tickets to the April 15th concert and will pick them
up at the Will Call table at Orchestra Hall at Chicago Symphony Center
3. On April 15th, go to the Will Call table at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center to pick up your
tickets.

The Joliet American Legion Band is an award-winning, non-profit organization dedicated to providing an excellent musical experience for loyal audiences since 1946. Comprised of veterans, professionals, senior citizens, students and more, the band carries a unique sound similar to the precise discipl...

03/25/2026

The National American Legion College Application is now open. This is a great opportunity to get the training everyone is asking for. Spots are limited.

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