About Us

Click here for a map to our location:  https://tinyurl.com/Where-We-Meet

Welcome to the web presence of the Gahanna, Ohio American Legion Post #797. One of the fastest growing Legion Posts in Ohio, and one of the few to work hand in hand with their counterpart organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The two Posts are co-located south of Granville Street and west of Big Walnut Creek, on a piece of land the city of Gahanna has designated as a Veterans Memorial Park. The location is directly across from the new Creekside City Center in Gahanna, a development that is quickly becoming well known for its annual Creekside Jazz and Blues Festival.

Our Post sponsors an annual High School student Americanism Oratorical Contest. Post level winners progress to District level, and those winners on to State level. The winner there goes to National level, with a chance at a financial reward for advanced schooling. Local winners get either a Bond or cash award, and contestants can participate in both year's contests.

Each year we send several boys to the eight day Buckeye Boys State program to learn about city, county, and state government through a non-partisan objective education approach, often forming lifetime friendships. It’s the largest Boys State program in the nation with an annual attendance of over 1,200 young men, representing nearly 600 Ohio High Schools, several on-line High Schools, and the Home Schooled Community. In addition to Buckeye Boys State, the Ladies Auxiliary annually sponsors girls to attend Buckeye Girls State, a week-long program designed to educate Ohio's young women in good citizen duties, privileges, rights, and responsibilities. Both Boys and Girls State Delegates learn more about city, county, and state government in this time than they will in an entire semester of high school.

The Legion consists of the main Legion Post, the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 797, and the Ladies Auxiliary 797.

The Gahanna American Legion and VFW Posts man a joint Honor Guard, with older members sometimes unable to work all requested events. All are volunteers, doing a public service when called upon. Honor Guard members often give up work and family time to present Military Honors to departed comrades (Post members or not). Those with military service are comrades, period.

The American Legion is always recruiting new members. If you, or anyone you know, were (or are) members of the military, we welcome you to come to a meeting or contact a Post officer (emails listed on Post Officers page). For information, call Commander Jim Refinati at  614-861-5622, or 2nd Vice Commander Ernie Massie at 614-746-0331. Consider becoming a member of our American Legion Post (the 2019 LEGION Act extends membership eligibility to all those having served honorably since 7 Dec 1941 - Merchant Marines only until 31 Dec 1946). It doesn't take much time, dues are not that great, and you get to meet comrades in arms. We are not a political organization, just veterans working for veterans. If you are a veteran and interested in becoming a member, click on the application link shown above.