American Legion Post 7, Lake Chapala

As an American Legion post, we serve local veterans and our Lakeside community. We serve three to 10 veterans a month with monetary help through our poppy seed fund, advice and help with paperwork for VA and immigration issues, and so much more. Our Legion post has sole responsibility for the maintenance of the expat section of the Chapala Cemetery, where many veterans are buried. We also have a great rapport with the other local military organizations here at Lakeside and meet with them bimonthly.
We support three local charities – Los Ninos de Chapala, Programa por Ninos Incompacitados and Operation Compassion – with a monthly donation. We are also involved in various activities to promote these worthy organizations. We play a vital role in the Firefighters and Red Cross Assistance project to provide Lakeside rescue and firefighters with accentual equipment. Other examples of our efforts include school supplies to the D.A.R.E. program; the Toys for Tots Christmas drive; and the U.S. consul from Guadalajara’s monthly visit to the Legion to help members, expats and local Mexicans with passports, Social Security and notaries.
We are the go-to place in Chapala for information pertaining to the Lakeside community and veterans services. For information, see one of our duty officers (on duty 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.); they will answer your questions or refer you to the service officer or post adjutant.
The American Legion is the central meeting place for expats in Chapala, just as the Lake Chapala Society is the center for the expats in Ajijic. Everyone is welcome at the Legion. You don’t have to be a member to participate in the events, eat in the restaurant or have drinks in the bar. If you are interested in going to any of their events, you should buy your ticket in advance. They can only serve 120 people at one event and the tickets sell out fast. You can buy them at the Legion.
The post is close to the malecon by the lake, a few blocks from the main plaza and half a block from Christiana Park.
Legion Charities: Los Ninos de Chapala is about education, Programa por Ninos Incompacitados is about helping the infirmed with finances, and Operation Compassion feeds the hungry. Auxiliary charities include The Little Blue School, Cruz Roja and the Tepehua Community Center.
American Legion Restaurant: The best food and prices this end of the lake. Regular meal hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., serving breakfast and lunch. Afternoon hours for salads and sandwiches are 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday dinners are 5 to 8 p.m. We are hoping to eventually expand dinners to five days a week. The kitchen is also open on weekends: Saturday 9 a.m. to noon, and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Every Saturday is our fish fry 3 to 6 p.m., and Sundays are grilled hamburgers noon to 3 p.m.
Bar at the American Legion: Happy hour (for members only) is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday. The bartender is there from noon to 8 p.m., but if you want a drink before noon the waiter will get one for you. The Legion is open until 8 p.m. every day.
There are 200 paid members of American Legion Post 7. There is a Legion event planned at least once a month. During the high season there are more events as well as various activities throughout the month, like bunco and karaoke.
The American Consulate is at the Legion on scheduled days once a month, 9:30 to 10:30. Their schedule is posted at the Legion and in the "Roll Call," our monthly Post 7 magazine.
There are Spanish classes two days a week on the Legion grounds. People come in and play cards and other games like backgammon and cribbage. If you want to arrange to have a group use the grounds, you have to get permission. Otherwise, there would be chaos.
The Lone Star Club meets there on the last Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. You don’t have to be a Texan to join. You just need to have an interest in Texas.
The “Roll Call”: When you visit the Legion, go into the bar and pick up the “Roll Call.” It has lots of information in it, plus many articles. I was browsing through one of their issues and found recipes, articles on military history, veterans’ health, Memorial Day, Mexican history, charity, an obituary, the Commanders Corner, a message from the Auxiliary president, the restaurant menu, a list of Legion events and activities, and many other interesting articles. The magazine is free.
The Terry Vale Pavilion was recently covered and decorated with military flags and Legion auto plates from American Legion posts all over the world.
There is a bulletin board at the back of the patio. You can find places for rent, services, and things for sale or other interesting information on it. Please respect other posts and the posting rules displayed on the message board when placing an advertisement. They must be initialed and dated by the duty officer or a Legion officer. There is also an American Legion Auxiliary board.
There is a large library of mostly paperback books. It is open whenever the Legion is open. You just take a book and return it when you are finished reading it. A volunteer goes in once a week and puts them back on the shelves.
The post is also the home of the first “Sons of the American Legion” south of the border.
You can also contact us at americanlegionchapala@gmail.com or 765-2259. For our Legion activities and events, go to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AmericanLegionChapalaPost7, or visit chapalalegion.com.
Post 7 is an active part of the Lakeside community and has something for everyone. I hope you will check it out. Their American breakfasts are delicious and their homemade biscuits are not to be missed. The people involved are friendly. It is a great place to visit.
American Legion Lake Chapala Post 7
#114 Morelos
Chapala, Jalisco 45900

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