WELCOME
APPROX. 95% OF THE POPULATION ARE PROBABLY ELIGIBILE TO JOIN ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS RESIDENT IN THE LA MESA POST 282 AT 8118 UNIVERSITY AVE, LA MESA, CA 91942.
GUESTS (NON-MEMBERS) ARE MOST WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR FOOD OFFERINGS AND TO ASK ABOUT MEMBERSHIP. GUESTS CANNOT ORDER ALCOHOL PER THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE COMMISSION.
Post Telephone (619) 469-6064 Option #2 for Membership and Commander, and Option #3 for Hall Rentals
The club is open every day except for Tuesdays. ALL meetings of our veterans' organizations are held on Thursday evenings. The American Legion general membership meeting is on the fourth Thursday of the month, starting 6:00 p.m. sharp, while the Executive Board (officers only) begins at 5:00 p.m.
For your safety: To purify the air, we have installed UV light in the return ducts of the HVAC System that continually cleanses the air. When the facility is closed, we also have UV lights in each room that also functions to sanitize air and furniture. The UV light, used in hospitals, has proven effective to remove most common forms of indoor air pollution. Enclosed in the HVAC unit, it keeps ducts and coils clean of mold that might want to reside there and is also effective for removal of viruses, germs, odors, cooking smells, tobacco smoke, and pet odors (we are a non-smoking facility and do not allow pets unless otherwise allowed per law).
Entertainment:
Wednesday and Saturday Karaoke starts 6 p.m.
Friday live band and dancing starts 6 p.m.
SPECIALS: Last Sunday EACH MONTH (starts May 2022) Breakfast starting at 9:30 a.m.
Hours of Operation for the Canteen/Meal Times:
CLOSED ON TUESDAY
We Have a Hall Facility that is available to the public!
La Mesa Post 282 has been at our current facility in La Mesa (a relatively small city with a population of approx 60,000) since 1947. The American Legion facility houses American Legion Post 282 and Auxiliary, Sons of the Legion Squadron 282, VFW Ship 1774 and Auxiliary, and the Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1365 of San Diego and Imperial Counties. The facility is affectionately called the La Mesa Veterans Club since all of the La Mesa veterans' organizations are in our facility. Commander John “Jack” Porath has been the Post's Commander since 2014 and has been, and is currently, the Ship’s Captain of VFW Ship 1774 since 2010.
Since our Post American Legion La Mesa Post 282 charter on June 28, 1923, we have been welcoming personnel from all uniformed branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. It does not matter if you are Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, or Veteran regardless of where in the world you may have served, a member of another veterans' organization, family member, and guests of authorized persons. Because La Mesa Post 282 hosts all the La Mesa-based veteran's organizations in our facility, we affectionately call ourselves the La Mesa Veterans Club where we conduct family-friendly events and food offerings.
We are a very active establishment with reasonable, suggested prices. You will meet active duty personnel; fellow Legionnaires and those of our Auxiliary (male and female; see membership criteria), Sons of The American Legion (any age); Shipmates of VFW O.K. Ingram Ship 1774 and the Auxiliary (male and female); members of Air Force Sergeants Association San Diego and Imperial County Chapter 1365 (male and female); members of other veterans organizations; and the many other personnel who visit us. Members of the public may join us for our scheduled meal times but due to the restrictions levied by the Alcohol Beverage Commission alcohol cannot be purchased.
The American Legion family are the American Legion, Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion (SAL), and Legion Riders. Eligibility for the American Legion is anyone who honorably served for one day since 7 Dec 1941. Eligibility criteria for the Auxiliary and SAL can be found elsewhere on this website. Currently, we do not have a Legion Riders Chapter.
If you are interested in leading or assisting with the formation of a Legion Riders Chapter, please contact the American Legion Commander or an officer of the Post 282. Legion Riders' membership comprises the entire American Legion family who rides motorcycles as well as members of other organizations who wish to also join the Legion.
Our members often belong to one or more of the veteran's organizations that may be present in our facility based on individual eligibility. Persons who have multiple memberships do it for reasons related to the desire to assist other organizations, benefits, travel, and a sense of belonging since the Programs do somewhat differ. To those who may be interested, please visit us at any time of the day. We do not care to which organization another belongs as "we are all together." Eligible persons are strongly encouraged to join us so we may fulfill our mission to better serve the needs of the community and remain strong.
We are a community gathering place that welcomes all. Your membership and/or participation allow us all to continue serving God, Country, and Community. Our local mission is to provide camaraderie, a support base for the veteran and family within the local community, low-cost meals, entertainment, counseling, various programs that assist the community, and to otherwise serve veterans and family members while embodying the goals of the American Legion Preamble as stated below:
PREAMBLE
For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purpose:
To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;
to maintain law and order;
to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;
to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars;
to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community, state and nation;
to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;
to make right the master of might;
to promote peace and goodwill on earth;
to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy;
to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
To the wonderful patriotic citizens of the La Mesa community: Join our Post as a Booster or Sponsor (if a business, we will provide a link to your business). 100% of the monies raised are given back to the community. Help us to continue to support financially worthy community programs and projects. Help us to continue sponsoring Scholarships for children, and give aid and assistance to our local needy Veterans and their families.
Thank You for your Donations!
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We've just completed our new Veterans' Guide to Getting Hired. You can find the guide here: http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/veterans-guide-to-getting-hired/
Overview of federal and private educational benefits available to servicemembers and their families. http://www.bestcolleges.com/financial-aid/military/
Link to the VFW O.K. Ingram Ship 1774 - Web Site
