A new American Legion booth with bar, convention hall, slot machines and grill hosted an open space over the weekend.
The American Legion Post 13, located at 3445 Washington Blvd, replaces an old Legion building with a smaller footprint, which was demolished in 2020. The Virginia Square facility now sits at the foot of 160 affordable housing units, some of which are reserved for veterans.
“The new Post 139 has an elegant meeting and activity room available for rent with capacity for up to 85 more people and audio-visual equipment,” reads a press release. “Next door is a stylish, well-equipped kitchen. Members, aides and their visitors have access to a street-facing mail room that features a bar, plush seating, big-screen TVs and gaming machines.
Among the main elements of the message is a 22-by-15-foot mural depicting three young representatives of the Legion and several Arlington landmarks, completed last summer.
Full press on the open house can be found below.
American Legion Post 139 opens its doors on Saturday, April 27, giving the public a first look at the unique Virginia Square facility that serves as home for the veterans organization while also offering key housing for the community.
The new Booth 139 features an elegant meeting and activity room, available for rent, with capacity for up to 85 people and audio-visual equipment. Next door is a stylish and well-equipped kitchen. Members, aides, and their visitors have access to a street-facing living room with a bar, plush seating, big-screen TVs, and gaming machines.
The Legion site, in assets owned by the post office since the 1930s, occupies 6,000 square feet on the site of new seven-story construction developed through the Arlington Association for Affordable Housing. APAH purchased the land in 2016 with an agreement that part of the future 160 apartments at Terwilliger Place would be reserved for veterans for the next 75 years. The first inhabitants of the building arrived in August 2022.
The former Post 139 building, known for its mural featuring the American flag and cannon, built in the 1950s and occupying a much smaller domain with two floors and a basement, was demolished in 2020.
The space open April 27 is free to the public and will offer a chance to meet Post 139 members, talk about special resources and partnerships available, and see art made by veterans. Live music. A variety of dishes will be served, in addition to grilled meats.
The station, at 3445 Washington Blvd. , is a short walk from the Virginia Square-GMU subway station and is also served by several bus lines. On-site parking is limited. Use spaces on the street or the GMU Van Meter garage.