September 2023 Newsletter
The Capital Campaign has kicked off and our goal is $200,000 by Sept 1!
Click here to donate at https://gofund.me/51df3544
Until the completion of our new Veterans Community Building, the members of the American Legion Post 2 are holding their meetings at the Disabled American Veterans Chapter building in Fountain City, located at 2600 Holbrook Drive.
Monthly Post 2 meetings normally are held the first Monday of each month, with dinner and social hour beginning at 6pm and the business meeting beginning at 7pm.
The mailing address for Post 2 is
PO Box 52668, Knoxville, TN 37950-2668
A Century of Service
American Legion Post 2 was organized on July 2, 1919, as the second Legion Post in the State of Tennessee. Meetings were held the first Monday of each month in the Knoxville Market Hall until the Post had grown to a membership of more than 400 men.
In 1944, the Post purchased a building, located at 704 State Street, in downtown Knoxville, where the organization remained until 1976 when it then moved to 800 Luttrell Street.
In 1983, the Post purchased the former Sunnyview Elementary School, located at 6520 Ruggles Ferry Pike, from the Knox County Government.
By 2014, however, the former school, which was built in 1931, had outlived its usefulness and was in need of extensive repairs.
As a result, in 2016, the Post membership voted to sell the building and property and move to a new location and build a new post home.
After an extensive search, the members of Post 2 purchased property located at 5100 Old Rutledge Pike and began working to prepare the site for the construction of a new building.
During this time, a picnic pavilion was constructed to allow the use of the property, and the iconic M160 Patton Tank was relocated. The site is used to host community events such as an annual Easter Egg Hunt, Classic Car Show and Trunk or Treat, and more.
Currently, Post 2 has a membership of more than local 600 service members, and supports a robust American Legion Riders group, Auxiliary and Sons of the Legion chapter.
Legion members are proud to partner with local JROTC and ROTC program activities, coordinate the annual Oratorical Scholarship contest for high school students, support Boys’ and Girls’ State programs, Scouting and Young Marines programs and more.
The Post 2 family includes the Legionnaires, the Auxiliary, the Sons of the Legion, and the American Legion Riders. Members come from many locations, backgrounds, and occupations. Together, these members work to organize a multitude local veteran and community events, such as Knoxville’s Annual Veterans Day Parade, the Mountain Man Memorial March, and yearly Memorial Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Community Service
Post 2 is proud to be known as a service post, and for the past century, Legion members have strived to support community activities across East Tennessee.
Such longstanding military observances as the annual Knoxville Veterans Day Parade, the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the Memorial Day ceremonies are all organized and conducted by the American Legion.
Post 2 was also responsible for launching the annual Mountain Man Memorial March, which has turned into one of the largest events in the country to honor and recognize the service and sacrifice of our military and Gold Star families.
Other less well-known activities include building ramps for disabled veterans, providing transportation for veterans to medical appointments, working with Dignity Memorial to provide a final escort for homeless Veterans laid to rest. Post 2 also tirelessly raises funds Wreaths across America and Honor Air Knoxville.
Post 2 also works with the youth of our community by supporting and sponsoring the local Boy Scout, the Young Marines chapters and the Knox County High School JROTC units by providing mentorship, acknowledging superior performance with medals and as well as offering volunteer opportunities.
Post 2 also provides financial support for local high school students who are interested in attending the annual Boys and Girls State summer program, and supports the annual Oratorical Scholarship competition.
The Post is making every effort to meet at our Post Pavilion in person as often as possible. In an effort to best serve our community, a parcel of land has been purchased and is the home to our future post building. This is a huge step for Post 2 and will allow us to fulfill our mission and continue to give back to our veterans and the Knoxville community.
The Mission of the American Legion is to to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
We are always striving to find new ways to impact the community in a positive manner and you can learn more by visiting our event calendar here or visiting our social media pages.
As you are out and about in Knoxville, swing by our future home located at 5700 Old Rutledge Pike and check out our awesome tank!
Post 2 is raising funds as we continued to construct our new Post Home to continue supporting our veterans and have a positive impact on our community.
For more information on supporting this effort with a financial contribution or in-kind gift to the Building Fund, please contact Commander Michael Testerman. You can also conveniently donate directly through PayPal.