Checking out which American Legion Post to join
 

We are new to The Villages and I want to change my membership in the American Legion to a new Post. Any suggestions as to which one is most active, inclusive, friendly or interesting? Please advise.
Michael Murrell
Marsh Bend

Search this site, there was a thread "Local American Legion Post 347 denies access to VETERAN!"

The thread mentioned other posts as well.

Lots to read.

I belong to Post 284 in Bellview. Very friendly group-not clicky-Marion County Legions are dry. We have a Legion Riders group-40/8 group also Sons of the Legion group. We have bingo on Wednesdays and Saturdays with around 100 attendees. Come see us!!

Fruitland Park is a very friendly, but small post. Post 347, the largest in the world has many activities, and a nice club-bar room.

I’m a member of AML Post 80
Saint Cloud Fl… also a Lifetime Charter Rider Member….If you are a Rider, check to see if your membership carries to the Post that you are transferring to! Also the Smoking / Non Smoking question should be addressed in your decision… Great Question OP

I dropped my membership because my club allowed smoking. Are you saying some here do? How about 347, I’ve been wanting to re-join.

If you are a Vietnam era veteran who served in Vietnam or during those war years in another country, you are welcomed to join our chapter.

www.vva1036.org

The club on Rolling Acres at 466 is the largest American Legion in the world.

There is a special smoking room at 347. It has ventilation and smoke inhibitors to keep the smoke from getting to the rest of the club.

Finding a New American Legion Post
 

Just want to say a big THANK YOU to my fellow veterans who so generously responded with information about the various American Legion Posts. I was a Vietnam Era Reservist whose MOS was 91A (Medic/Public Health Specialist) so I may not click with those of you who spent time deployed in Vietnam, because I never left the U.S. However, I value my time in the Army and now spend two days a week doing psychological evaluations for the VA. I do value those who have put their lives on the line for the defense of our precious America. I will visit the various posts with my wife and see where we fit. Many thanks to you all for your response. God Bless You All.

Michael Murrell, Psy. D. Marsh Bend

Thanks for your service and your continued service at the VA.

Just me but I liked the one in Lady Lake, I think it’s on 466! I was told it was the biggest in the U.S. or the world. Check that one out! It’s got 3 or 4,000 members.

I’ve been a member of post 347 for 10 years. It doesn’t get any better than that post.

That’s not true any more…..just be a veteran and your wecomed

I do not understand how you can be a member of Vietnam veterans organization ,and you didn’t serve in Vietnam , same with the sons of the American Legion , they get to dress up and look like other legionnaires without being in service . I also don’t understand why people call themselves Vietnam era veterans What’s wrong with just saying you were in the service can’t you just be proud of that without piggybacking on a Vietnam veterans service , I know for some it’s just because others have said it ,but for others I think they know they are blurring the lines and there are actually people who think people served in Vietnam when they see the phrase Vietnam era

Post 347 locks out Vietnam Vets
 

A couple years ago I brought friends from Minnesota down to this post to have one drink at the bar and show them around the post. I was about to join. Showed my Legion card to people at the door, and they would not let us in for one drink because locals had some type of contest going on in the club. Couldn’t believe it. Seemed clicky! I will never go in there again.
The bar I could see was empty at the time.

Welcome to the Villages and Thank you for your service.

I will never go back to 347. They denied me two years in a row. They had some bum at the door checking IDs looked like he had in showered in a month and you wouldn't allow me in 2 years in a row that is the last time I would ever put a shadow on their door. I was an army officer who served in Vietnam and have classified totally disabled, and a long time member back home. My home needs my membership to stay afloat in a small town no reason to change

Yes , OhioShooter , Post 80 allows smoking! I am not in agreement with it, but Majority dictates policy…

Post 219 Fruitland Park. Very nice, small, friendly and non smoking. Was turned away from Post 347 due to capacity. Amvets in Leesburg is nice but they smoke.

That was what the other thread was about regarding Post 347.......being turned away.

American Legion Post 347
 

Vietnam veterans only? what about Korea 1950-54

I think the person was offering the VVA Chapter vs. the American Legion in their post.

Transfer legion membership
 

Michael,
I am the current 1st Vice Commander of AL Post 347 in Lady Lake and the membership chair. We are a very active post with bingo several times/week and trivia on Thursday and Saturday evening. Lunch is served on Sunday and Wednesday and dinner is served Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Our website is Florida-legion.org - please check out our newsletter. Our next membership meeting is May 10th (always the second Wednesday each month). Social time with pizza and beverage starts at 5:30 PM and meeting starts at 6:30. Stop by the front office with your DD214 and complete a transfer application anytime Monday - Friday 9-4. If you get there by Noon Monday 5/8, you will be read in and get a new membership card Wednesday. You can contact me for further info 352-633-0385, leave a message and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Turned away from 347
 

That was when we had to close on Tuesday evenings as we had large turn out for queen raffle and only allowed post members and spouse in.

Post 347
 

Our post is non smoking inside BUT have a screened in lanai for those who smoke.

Almost 7000 legion members, with Auxiliary and SAL close to 10000.

That was NOT what Commonsense was told when he was turned away.

:beer3:

Every was has had support personnel that were required to bring victory. I don't think WWII vets differentiated between in theater and out of theater, or Korea vets that differentiate between in theater and out of theater. All that served were necessary, those out of theater contributed greatly to those in theater. By using "era" it gives recognition to those provided support while not using era gives recognition to those in theater. Most vets I know were thankful for those that supported them and consider "era" vets important to the cause.

no one says that support people are not important but your either in country or out of country , and that’s not the case about different war vets , the veterans or foreign wars (VFW ) was founded for veterans of foreign wars , Korean War vets are just that Korean War vets , Vietnam veterans are vets that served in Vietnam , American legion is for all who served ,so maybe people could form a group called era for whenever and wherever you served ,I never was taking away from there service ,all service is important , but people can call themselves any thing they want , I’ve been in very few clubs ,,maybe be in the 1970 ‘s and I think those were weddings and have absolutely no desire to go into another ,I hear enough fairy tales listening to guys around the villages now , I do donate to the VFW , Purple Heart Foundation , Vietnam Vets group in Boston and a group that helps Vietnamese war vets from both sides of the war , and another group who helps the Vietnamese people dealing with the effects from Agent Orange , all of them twice a year

I went to Post 347 and signed up. Nice people, very helpful. Membership meeting Wednesday.

As a Vietnan era vet 72 -74 I got lucky and went to Korea instead. Draft #18

Looking for a new Post
 

Thanks for the heads-up on post 347. I am going to check it out. Do they also have activities for wives as well?
Michael Murrell

Not so lucky I enlisted, final fun got to spend time at field hospital in rocket alley

What about the countless conflicts after VN?

American Legion Post 80
 

Is there a place for non-smokers and non-drinkers there?