Don't Light 'Em If You've Got 'Em: American Legion is Smoke-Free

Following a renovation of the building, the Alpharetta’s American Legion Post on Wills Road is totally smoke-free. Guests may smoke on an outdoor deck area recently added to the facility.

The smoking ban for the 825 wartime veterans’ organization took effect on Feb. 3, according to a news release. The change followed a vote late last year in which members decided by a two-to-one margin to ban smoking, which has been allowed in the club room for 45 years.

The American Legion Post banned smoking in the main meeting hall several years ago. That room hosts twice weekly dances and bingo three times a week that are open to the public.

According to Post Commander Marty Farrell, “The executive committee decided to seek a smoking ban approval following a major renovation of the facility made possible by the generosity of The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot, their employee volunteers.”

The renovations included the construction of a new deck, which provided a place to ask members and guests to use for smoking. 

“We were at a transformational moment in the history of our organization. Many felt that unless we took up the smoking issue at that moment, it would likely never be accomplished,” added Farrell.

The commander said the organization is working hard to attract new members, especially the Iraq-Afghanistan generation of military veterans. He said the group knows that it needs to make changes in order to accomplish that, including a more family-friendly, healthier atmosphere.

American Legion Post 201 is located at 201 Wills Road in Alpharetta. It is part of the nation’s largest veterans’ organization with more than 2.4 million members across America. For more information: visit www.legion201.org.