About Us - Gahanna American Legion

American Legion Post # 797 is located in Gahanna, Ohio and meets monthly at the VFW Post # 4719 on the third Thursday of every month.  The VFW Hall is located at the end of Old Johnstown Road directly behind the Veterans Memorial.   Our meetings start at 7:30 pm sharp and normally run about one hour, so if any of our members wish to attend, they can plan their time to do so.

The Gahanna Post sponsors two American Legion Baseball teams each year, and we send several High School boys to Buckeye Boys State for a chance to learn about our government, and how it works.  It provides them a chance to be selected to participate in going further than that, as they could be selected while at the College to participate in Boys Nation as one of our sponsored boys did in 2007.  By doing so, they get the chance to meet many government officials, including the President.

The Gahanna Post also sponsors an annual Oratorical Contest, and provides the chance for both boys and girls in their Junior and Senior years to participate in the opportunity.  The winners at Post level progress to District level, then to State level, and from there the winner goes to National level, where they have the chance to win scholarship money for their College years.  Local winners get either a Bond or a cash award.  The good thing about this contest is that the contestants can participate in both years contests, as has happened in the past couple years.

In addition to the Buckeye Boys State, the Ladies Auxiliary sponsor annually a group of High School girls to attend Buckeye Girls State where they have the same opportunity as the boys.  They go to Ashland University for their two week stint, and have the same opportunity of progression.  The Post 797 Auxiliary has been very resourceful in having several candidates each year also.

The Gahanna Legion Post meets in the VFW Hall because there is no Post home for our meetings, so therefore we are in search of a building that we can call our own to use for all the events we sponsor, and to have a regular place in which all our components can meet.  The Legion consists of the main Legion Post, the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 797, The Ladies Auxiliary 797, and the Venture Crew Scouts 797, and to date only the Legion main post has a regular meeting place, but that has been outgrown by our ever-incresing membership, and a Post home is needed.  The Post has sent out requests to businesses, both small and large asking for participation in their quest for funding to acquire a Post Home, but there have been very few offers in that respect.  There are many ways in which to help us in our efforts which you will see when visiting our Support page.  The Legion does acknowledge all those generous citizens of Gahanna who support our Legion Baseball drives each year.  Thanks to all of you!

As you all may have noticed, the Gahanna American Legion Post has an Honor Guard, and so does the VFW Post, but many of those members are older members who are not able to participate in every event they are requested to, so at times they have to merge into one component to carry out the details in which they participate.  This has caused some confusion in who is who, but please keep in mind that they are all volunteers, and they all do a public service when called upon.  The Honor Guard members many times give up work time, for those who still work, and family time to present Military Honors to departed comrades, whether they are, or were, post members or not.  If they were in the military service, they are our comrades, it's just that simple. 

The American Legion is always recruiting new members, and if you, or anyone you know, were, or are members of the military, we welcome you to come to a meeting or contact one of the officers on the officers page, and consider becoming a member of the Gahanna American Legion Post 797.  It won't take up much of your time, and the dues are not that great, but you will be meeting with comrades in arms, some or many who served as you did, with honor and love for your country.  We are not a political organization, just veterans working for other veterans.  If you are a veteran and interested in becoming a member, just click on the application.pdf file below, print it, and mail it along with a check for $35 and a copy of your DD Form 214 to - American Legion Post #797, P.O. Box 30843, Gahanna, OH 43230.  A receipt and membership card will be mailed to you.