Amvets opens doors
After 80 years in the Washington, D.C. area, AMVETS, one of the nation’s largest veterans service organizations, has moved from one Washington locale to another.
AMVETS officially opened the doors to its new national headquarters at the former Beth Israel Synagogue in Washington on Saturday.
Pennsylvania’s Washington County has one of the highest numbers of veterans per capita in the United States, which factored into the organization’s decision to move to Southwestern Pennsylvania.
“We are just so happy to be becoming a member of this community. We truly feel we can be a beacon to veterans, not only in Washington County and Southwestern Pennsylvania, but across the country,” said AMVETS National Commander Paul M. Shipley. “We are planning on opening up this facility to the community and plan on having bingo and music events and other events.
AMVETS is a service organization that works to improve the quality of life for veterans from all branches of the U.S. government and their families. It provides assistance like job training, VA claim assistance, and educational scholarship.
The building on North Avenue houses the organization’s offices and will host meeting and community events.
AMVETS past commanders and members from nearly a dozen states, including California, Florida and Massachusetts, attended the opening.
Donald McLean, AMVETS past national commander who serves on the building committee, said the AMVETS had explored more than a dozen locations – in person and online – but was drawn to the Washington space.
“The biggest thing is, from the first day we walked through this building, everybody had the same thing in mind: this building can hold every aspect of our organization, our ladies’ auxiliary, Sons of AMVETS, our riders’ group, our juniors’ group, so our (AMVETS) family will be in one place. And here we are,” said McLean.
The Beth Israel Synagogue was sold to AMVETS in 2024 for $525,000 for the new national headquarters.
As part of the sale agreement, Beth Israel congregation will have use of the chapel on the property for services.
A groundbreaking for the new AMVETS headquarters was held in Dec. 2024.
Rocky Bleier Construction Group, based in Carnegie, oversaw the project.
Bleier, the former Pittsburgh Steelers great who won four Super Bowls with the team, was injured in service in the Vietnam War, earning the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Dorland Anderson, Post Commander of AMVETS Post 72347, said an elevator will be installed in the building in the near future to improve accessibility.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for March 7, during the AMVETS weeklong national executive committee meetings.