Preserving Post 41 and its Deep Roots

Planes roar overhead and traffic hums nearby, reminders of how much the City of Phoenix has changed over the past eight decades. But one landmark remains: American Legion Post 41.

The post still stands as a testament to the Latino veterans who built it. A mural along one exterior wall tells their story, showing generations of Mexican-American families from World War II veteranos to their children and the lives they created.

The story begins about 80 years ago, when Mexican-American veterans returned home from the war. They had served their country, but equal acceptance did not always follow.

“Anytime you’re joining the post, they can’t refuse you,” said former Post 41 Commander, Loui Olivas. “But this does not mean they’re really going to accept you.”

Veteranos often found themselves ignored inside other posts, sitting at empty bars and waiting 15 minutes just to get a beer. So they built a place of their own.

Post 41 became the first American Legion post in Arizona created for Latino veterans. It quickly became an anchor for Phoenix’s Latino community.

“We have the largest footprint of any post in Arizona,” said Olivas.

Over the decades, Post 41 expanded its mission beyond serving veterans. It offered social services to the neighborhood, including a children’s clinic that once served more than 100 kids in the area.

Today, the City of Phoenix is working to ensure that history is preserved and recognized.

“It’s all about the histories these buildings hold, the events that transpired here, the people who came through here, and the social and political impact the post has had,” said City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Planner, Modesto "Mo" Melendez.

Post 41 already holds local historic designation. Phoenix’s Historic Preservation Office is now helping prepare its application for the National Register of Historic Places. The designation could open the door to tax incentives and future grants.

Outside, the mural reflects how far the story has traveled. But for Loui Olivas, the history inside the building is personal.

“I remember as a small kid coming through here with my parents,” he said. “You would see these veterans and listen to their conversations, the jokesters debating who was better: Army, Air Force, Marines. And the pride they had. This is our post.”

Decades later, it still is. And as Phoenix continues to grow and change, local leaders are working to ensure the story of Post 41 and the veteranos who built it endures.