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Title 36, Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-110

§50303 Membership

Title 36 › Subtitle II — Patriotic and National Organizations › Part B — Organizations › CHAPTER 503 — DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS › § 50303

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Only people who meet one of two rules may join the corporation. First, someone who was wounded, gassed, injured, or disabled while on duty in the U.S. military during a time of war and who was honorably discharged or is still on active duty. Second, a U.S. citizen who was disabled while serving with an allied country’s armed forces during that country’s wartime and who was honorably discharged. Honorary memberships are not allowed.

Full Legal Text

Title 36, §50303

Patriotic and National Observances, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Eligibility.—
An individual is eligible for membership in the corporation if the individual—
(1)(A)was wounded, gassed, injured, or disabled in the line of duty during time of war while in the service of the military or naval forces of the United States; and
(B)was honorably discharged or separated from that service or is still in active service in the Armed Forces of the United States; or
(2)(A)was disabled while serving with any of the Armed Forces of a country associated with the United States as an ally during any of its war periods;
(B)is a citizen of the United States; and
(C)was honorably discharged.
(b)No Honorary Memberships.—
An honorary membership may not be granted.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5030336:90e.June 17, 1932, ch. 268, § 5, 47 Stat. 321; July 15, 1942, ch. 505, § 3, 56 Stat. 660. In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “An individual” are substituted for “Any man or woman” and “Others” for consistency in the revised title and to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (1), the words “either” and “of America” are omitted as unnecessary. In clause (2)(B), the words “citizen of the United States” are substituted for “American citizens” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

36 U.S.C. § 50303

Title 36, Patriotic and National Observances

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110