American Legion

POST 76 IS A VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1919 AS PART OF THE AMERICAN LEGION TO SUPPORT WARTIME VETERANS. THE POST ALSO SUPPORTS CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAMS AND MAINTAINS THE CHARLES JOHNSON HOUSE.

VETERAN ASSISTANCE: POST 76 PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS IN OBTAINING SERVICES FROM THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OTHERS. WHEN THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED THAT IS NOT BEING MET, THE POST PROVIDES FUNDS. POST ACTIVITIES PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER VETERANS. THE POST CONTRIBUTES TO THE AMERICAN LEGION CHARITIES AND PROVIDES SUPPLIES TO THE VA CLINIC. MEMBERS VOLUNTEER AT THE CLINIC AND VISIT PATIENTS AT THE VA HOSPITAL. IN ADDITION, MEMBERS LOBBY ON BEHALF OF VETERANS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THE CITY OF AUSTIN BUILT A VETERANS PARK ON PROPERTY IN FRONT OF THE POST. MEMBERS TESTIFIED AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO MAINTAIN THE EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE HINSON HAZLEWOOD ACT. THE VETERANS DAY PARADE IS PRECEEDED BY A BREAKFAST PREPARED AT THE POST. MEMBERS PLACE FLAGS ON VETERANS GRAVES ON MEMORIAL DAY. MEMBERS VOLUNTEER AT JOB FAIRS HOSTED BY THE AMERICAN LEGION. MEMBERS SERVE AS OFFICERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS AT THE DEPARTMENTOF TEXAS AND THE NATIONAL AMERICAN LEGION. MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE SUBSTANTIAL HOURS TO THESE ACTIVITIES.

YOUTH PROGRAMS: THE POST SPONSORS 20 TO 30 HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS TO THE AMERICAN LEGION BOYS STATE AND GIRLS STATE PROGRAMS. THE POST JUNIOR SHOOTING PROGRAM TEACHES MARKSMANSHIP TO BOYS AND GIRLS. AN AMERICAN LEGION POSTAL MATCH IS HELD AT THE POST. CREW 76 IS A SCOUTING PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE POST. THE POST SPONSORS AND INSTRUCTS STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE AMERICAN LEGION ORATORICAL PROGRAM. THE POST PRESENTS ANNUAL ROTC AWARDS TO UNITS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND HOSTS AN ROTC APPRECIATION DINNER AND COLOR GUARD PASS IN REVIEW CEREMONY. MEMBERS SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS AT DISTRICT, STATE AND NATIONAL CONTESTS. MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE SUBSTATIAL HOURS TO THESE ACTIVITIES.

CHARLES JOHNSON HOUSE: POST 76 PURCHASED THE CHARLES JOHNSON HOUSE IN 1924. THE HOME IS DESIGNATED HISTORIC BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN. BUILT IN THE LATE 1850S, THE HOME PRECEEDED THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND MAY BE THE OLDEST HOME IN AUSTIN. POST 76 UTILIZES THE HOME FOR PROGRAMS AND EXPENDS FUNDS TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS. THE POST RETAINS A CERTIFIED ARBORIST TO CARE FOR SEVERAL HERITAGE OAK TREES WHICH ARE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTRY. THE LARGEST TREE IS ESTIMATED TO BE THE OLDEST TREE IN AUSTIN AND MORE THAN 1,000 YEARS OLD.