Open house set for new American Legion Post 139 facility

American Legion Post 139 opens its doors on Saturday, April 27, giving the public a first look inside the unique Virginia Square facility that serves as a welcoming home for the veterans group while providing key affordable housing to the community.     

The new Post 139 features a modern meeting and activity room, available for rentals with an 85-person capacity and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. A well-appointed, modern kitchen is adjacent. Members, auxiliary and their guests have access to a street-front post lounge, complete with bar, plush seating, wide-screen televisions and gaming machines. 

The Legion site, on property owned by the post since the 1930s, occupies 6,000 square feet of the ground floor of the new seven-story building developed by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. APAH bought the land in 2016 with an agreement that half of the future 160 Terwilliger Place apartments would be set aside for veterans for the next 75 years. The building’s first residents arrived in August 2022.  

The previous Post 139 building, known for its American flag mural and cannon, was built in the 1950s and occupied a much smaller footprint with two floors and a basement. It was demolished in 2020.  

The April 27 open house is free for the public and will offer chances to meet Post 139 members, discuss special resources and partnerships available and view artwork by veterans. Live music. A variety of foods including grill items will be served.  

The post, at 3445 Washington Blvd., is a short walk from Virginia Square-GMU Metro station and is also served by several bus routes. There is limited on-site parking; use street spaces or the GMU Van Metre garage.