Our History

Our story begins in 1937.

October 6, 1937, Thirty-One veterans of World War I assembled together to form the American Legion "Business and Professional Men's" Post, creating Post 351.

Subsequently American Legion Post 24 was also a Post in El Paso.  Due to low membership numbers, Post 24 and Post 351 were merged and was granted its temporary charter from the National Headquarters on August 4, 1944.  The copy on file of the charter application shows that it was received at the National Headquarters at 10:45am on August 3, 1944.  The application was signed by William J. Elliot, 755 First National Bank Building.

Originally, the National Headquarters intended to give our Post designation as Post #24 to the to new Post, but changed the numerical designation to #58 to fill the gap caused by the cancelled charter of J. Morgan Currie Post #58 of Lott, Texas; which had been in operation since its approval of its charter by the National Adjutant on April 29, 1930.

Now with the consolidation complete, Post 58 would honor both founding members of each Post as charter member and considered as our Charter Roll.  Post 58 would adopt "Paso Del Norte" as its name honoring the history of El Paso.

Finding a Home.

Meetings of Post 58 were initially held wherever space could be found.  Past minutes recorded indicated that meetings were held in place such as the basement of the old El Paso County Building and the Paso Del Norte Hotel.  Pending selection and purchase of a Post Home, a "Memorial Fund" was established, derived from car parking and "odd job" receipts; the "Memorial Fund" lasted 18 years of investment, until 1962.

After eight decades, Post 58 would be the social center for both service members and veterans due to its proximity to Fort Bliss and Northeast El Paso.  In those years, the 58 would bear witness to World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, the conflicts in Lebanon and Grenada, Panama, The Persian Gulf War, and The Global War on Terrorism.  "The 58" would serve as a service organization supporting the families of the deployed in combat operations and stand at the return of both the survivors and honored deceased.

The Future.

As the largest Post by membership, "The 58" looks to broaden its abilities and its presence in the community.  Opening our doors to our community, business owners, community groups, and other Veteran Service Organizations.  It is with the greatest of hope that "the 58" will become the lightbearer and the genuine namesake of The American Legion in "The 915".