The Lampasas VFW post was renamed the Charles “Choc” Gillen post in 2013 to honor its first commander and a founding member. Courtesy photo
The VFW Post 8539 runs a full-service canteen for its members. It also has built its reputation as a service organization that assists veterans and others in the Lampasas community. courtesy photo
Charles Gillen served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was stationed in India. Courtesy photo
The Veterans of Foreign Wars post opened in 1946 in an old barracks as the Lampasas Memorial VFW.
VFW Post 8539 is located at 481 North U.S. Highway 183 in Lampasas. The post was chartered on Oct. 15, 1946 as a post in District 14.
The 7.9 acres of land the post originally sat on was sold to the post for $1. By the end of the first year, they had 51 members.
The fi...
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