American Legion Post 24

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American Legion Post 24

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History

Who Are We?

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.


Visit The American Legion Headquarter's website.

Department of Virginia American Legion

The Department of Virginia American Legion was also formed in 1919, with 91 local Posts with several thousand members. Today the Department of Virginia is comprised of 17 Districts containing 212 Posts with a total membership of over 33,500 Legionnaires. 


The Department of Virginia American Legion headquarters website contains a variety of useful information about upcoming events, our Department leadership, and links to all American Legion posts in Virginia.


Visit The Department of Virginia American Legion Headquarter's website.

The Four Pillars of the American Legion

In 1919, The American Legion was founded on four pillars: Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth. Each of these pillars encompasses a variety of programs that benefit our nation’s veterans, its service members, their families, the youth of America and ordinary citizens. 


Learn More about the Four Pillars

Post 24 History

Gadsby's Tavern

Gadsby's Tavern is a famous landmark in Alexandria, Virginia and the oldest Post home in The American Legion. Consisting of a Tavern (1785), a City Tavern and Hotel (1792), and a hotel wing (1878), the Tavern was a center for social business and economic life in early Alexandria, and is known by many for its association with our nation's early leaders. 

Post 24 Founding Members

Highlights of the Many Historic events at Gadsby's over the past 200 Years

 

  • The Birth Night Ball celebration in honor of George Washington in the ballroom.
  • A review of the troops by General Washington from the steps of Gadsby’s Tavern in 1798.  This was one of his final military appearances. He started and ended his military career in Alexandria.
  • A parade by the citizens of Alexandria to honor President John Adams on June 11,1800.
  • The inaugural banquet of Thomas Jefferson in March 1801.
  • A dinner for President James Madison on May 9, 1808, shortly after his inauguration ceremony in Washington.
  • President James Monroe dined here in 1817.
  • The Marquis de Lafayette was honored at, what was heralded as, “one of the most brilliant of banquets” on October 16, 1824.  Secretary of State John Quincy Adams (one year before he became president) also attended.
  • The Union Governor of Virginia, Francis H. Pierpont was entertained and quartered at the City Hotel in August 1863.
  • George Washington’s birthday was celebrated at the Tavern in 1932.  This event was recreated by our Post.  Alexandrians have continued this tradition with an annual parade and banquet.
  • Following the Civil War, Alexandria entered into a long period of decline. Gadsby’s Tavern also declined. Nobody would lease it, so the furnishings were auctioned off. 
  • In 1917, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art purchased the ballroom woodwork and the unique musician’s gallery and took them to New York City, along with the dining room mantel piece and front door.
  • In 1928, our World War I Post members heard rumors that a developer planned to purchase and demolish Gadsby's. The located heirs of the Irwin family, who had owned the complex for 114 years, negotiated a deal to purchase it for $18,000.
  • A public subscription helped the Post raise a $4,000 down payment and assume a $14,000 mortgage. Local civic and patriotic organizations assisted the Post in raising funds for critical structural repairs.
  • By the 1960s, the rapidly deteriorating buildings were in dire need of structural improvement, as well as updating electrical, plumbing, and heating systems. Estimated costs were in the millions.  It was proposed to the City of Alexandria that we give them the complex along with all the furnishings. We proposed the city restore the entire complex for the 1976 bicentennial; the back wing (1878) be decorated, furnished and equipped to Legion specifications; the city to maintain it and Post 24 to have use of it as its home in perpetuity, free of any cost or charge whatsoever, other than telephone and television. Also, the Post shall have the privilege to use, free of charge, the two historic buildings and the courtyard for commemorative occasions, and the city was to install a bronze plaque in the Little Tavern crediting Post 24 with saving the historic complex from demolition.
  • The original front door and mantelpiece were returned from New York and reinstalled in their original places. Betty Ford unveiled the mantle piece in the dining room. The City Council agreed, and the title was signed over to the city on August 11, 1972.


Additional Post 24 History is available on the American Legion Post 24 Centennial Website. 

POST 24 MEMBERS LAY WREATH AT TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

On Wednesday, 27 July 2022, Commander Mike Mixon and recent Past Commander Henry Dorton had the honor of laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Watch a video of the event introduction or watch a video of the Laying of the Wreath.

POST 24 CONDUCTS BUDDY CHECK BIRTHDAY SURPRISE FOR WWII VETERAN

American Legion Buddy Checks are making differences in the lives of veterans stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alexandria, Va., Post  24 Adjutant James Glassman conducted a special buddy check birthday surprise for World War II veteran H. Warden Foley, a 73-year member of The American Legion. Members of the post prepared in advance for this Buddy Check, preparing cards and gifts, including a quilt from Quilts of Honor.

Learn more

POST 24 WELCOMES MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT, SSG TY CARTER

Past Post 24 Commander Jim Glassman welcomes Medal of Honor recipient Army Staff Sgt. Ty  Carter to American Legion Post 24 in Old Town. The Historic Post 24 hosted a private dinner for the Afghanistan veteran August 26, 2013 after President Barack Obama presented Carter with the nation’s highest  military honor during a White House ceremony earlier in the day. 


The photo shows Past Commander Jim Glassman with Medal of Honor recipient Army Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, taken by Post 24 Legionnaire John Napolitano on  August 26, 2013.


 Read the Article in the Alexandria Gazette Packet written by Unit 24 Auxiliary member Jeanne Theismann.

POST 24 WELCOMES MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT, SSG RYAN PITTS

SSG Ryan Pitts, Medal of Honor recipient was hosted by Post 24 at a private reception on 21 July 2014 after he was awarded the Medal of Honor earlier in the day at the White House. You can read about his heroics at https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/pitts/profile/


Pictured from left to right are Past National Commander Dan Dellinger, SSG Pitts, Past Post 24 Commander Jim Glassman, Past Department Commander Gerald Rhoads, and Past Department Adjutant Dale Chapman.

POST 24 HONORS PUBLIC SAFETY VETERANS

 

Alexandria Gazette, March 21, 2019 


Alexandria Police Officer Sean Gallagher and Alexandria Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Jeffrey Hunter were honored as the 2018 Law Enforcement  Officers of the Year on March 13 by the American Legion Post 24 in Old Town. The public safety veterans were recognized for their service to the community as part of the American Legion’s Homeland Security Support Program.


Read the Article in the Alexandria Gazette Packet, written by Unit 24 Auxiliary member, Jeanne Theismann.


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Post 24 Distributes 8,000 Knitted Poppies at Armistice Centennial Celebration

Sunday,  November 11, 2018 marked the centennial, now celebrated as Veterans  Day, with a ceremony and plaque unveiling at the ballroom of the  American Legion Post #24 (400 Cameron St.).  


  • On  November 11th, the Office of Historic Alexandria and American Legion Post 24 held a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the armistice to end the First World War, signed November 11, 1918. Fellow Alexandrians marked the centennial of Armistice Day, now celebrated as Veteran’s Day, on Sunday, November 11, with a ceremony and plaque unveiling.
  • The  door to the ballroom at American Legion Post #24, 400 Cameron Street, opened at 9:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 10 a.m. The ceremony featured speakers, T.C. Williams JROTC, and the unveiling of a new plaque remembering all from the City of Alexandria who died during World  War One. A reception in the Post #24 Club Room immediately followed the program. 
  • As  part of this ceremony, over 8,000 knit and crocheted poppies were displayed and handed to guests in memory of Alexandria’s veterans. Local residents and visitors created the poppies over the last 18 months in preparation for this event. Poppies were officially adopted as a  symbol of remembrance for those who died in service to their country shortly after World War One.


See full article and photographs by The Zebra Community News.

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JEFFERSON LETTER

  • While reviewing some Post 24 archives, members of the Post found an original letter written in June 1808 by President Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Joel Barlow, poet, diplomat, and politician (1754-1812) giving him the best travel plan and tolls to expect after inviting him to his home at Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, after giving him directions from the Georgetown Ferry in Washington, DC.
  • Although no one knows how the letter ended up at Post 24, the letter was ultimately preserved and officially given to the City for "future generations" to enjoy said Post Commander Michael Conner as he presented the letter to the Mayor at the August 4th ceremony.
  • Much like their Post home, which was purchased in 1929, members of Post 24 voted in 1972 to present the entire Gadsby's complex to the city so that it could be restored and enjoyed by future generations from across the country and throughout the nation.  The restored Gadsby's complex was remodeled and re-opened in 1976 as part of the City's Bi-Centennial celebration.  The Gadsby's Tavern and Museum in Alexandria are now National Historic Landmarks with a deep longstanding history.
  • The city has agreed to allow Post 24 to use the Jefferson letter up to four times a year on special occasions to help underscore the history of Post 24 in the Alexandria community.

Jefferson Letter

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