Post 42 History
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic organization for military veterans. On June 9, 1919, the first Legion post in Polk County received its temporary charter to form Charles McGovern Post 42 in Ankeny, Iowa. 61 military veterans from the Ankeny, Elkhart, and Alleman areas were initial members.
The original post name honored Charles Alvin McGovern, the first Ankeny man to die during military service in World War I. The post’s name was soon changed to the Albaugh-McGovern Post to additionally recognize the sacrifice of Lester Raymond Albaugh. Albaugh, another Ankeny local, was killed in action in France during World War I on 15 October 1918.
In early years, post members met mostly at member’s homes. The post’s first permanent home was the former Farmer’s Savings Bank building in Ankeny.
After receiving funds from a single private donor, a new home for Albaugh-McGovern Post 42 was built in the Ankeny Uptown business area on a lot donated by the city. It was dedicated on 5 September 1948, and remains the current Legion Hall.
TODAY
Ankeny McGovern-Albaugh Post #42 has approximately 180 total members.
Post 42 meets on the second Thursday during the months of September to June. Members still meet at our historic location in Uptown Ankeny (521 SW 3rd St. Ankeny, Iowa). A dinner precedes each meeting.
Post 42 welcomes military veterans to attend a meeting to learn more about the organization.