Brannen-van den Berg Post was named for two servicemen from New Paltz who were killed in World War II. Sergeant Everett L. Brannen, a flight engineer on a B-17 was killed in a bombing raid over St. Nazaire, France on June 28, 1943. Sergeant Brannen is buried in the US Military Cemetery in St. James, France.

Captain Lawrence van den Berg, a navigator on a B-24, was killed over the Philippines on May 17, 1945. Captain Van den Berg is buried in the War Memorial Cemetery near Manila.

Sidney Haas was the first Commander of the post. George Brannen, brother of Everett, was the first Adjutant and Axel Johansen served as the first Quartermaster. The property was purchased in 1951 and construction was started on the original Post home with the official opening on January 23, 1955. The Post home was later destroyed by fire on February 16, 1972.

Meetings were held at the American Legion building on Route 32. Six months after the fire, the first meeting was held in the completely renovated basement of the old home.In March of 1973, construction was begun on the new Post building, with the grand opening on December of that year.

--- From a plaque at the Post home