American Legion Auxiliary Window in National Cathedral
The Job Nave Clerestory Window at The National Cathedral was funded by the American Legion Auxiliary.
In 1981, an anonymous philanthropist pledged $50,000, but only if the American Legion Auxiliary could raise an equal amount.
The interest of then-National President Romaine Roethel was stoked, and so began a flurry of fundraising activity. In 1986, the money was raised — the American Legion Auxiliary would endow the placement of a stained glass window in Washington, D.C.’s National Cathedral, which has long been a source of national pride.
On Sunday, Feb. 23, 1986, a crowd of more than 2,000 gathered in the National Cathedral for a service that included the dedication of the Job Clave Clerestory Window. The dedication time coincided with the Auxiliary’s annual Awareness Assembly (now named Washington DC Conference) that year.
The dedication was scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. — the predicted time the most morning sun would shine through the window. In addition to department and unit presidents, ALA National Headquarters invited senators and congressmen to the dedication ceremony. The window, 27 feet 7 inches tall and 14 feet 8 inches wide, is a tribute to all men and women who have served in the United States armed forces. Learn More
Mission Training DVDOrder your Mission Training DVD today! Each video segment in this series covers a different pod.
Couldn’t make it to a Mission Training workshop? It’s now available on DVD!
Through a virtual classroom setting, the American Legion Auxiliary has created an ALA Mission Training two-disc DVD set. We encourage you to share the video with others. Each segment covers a different pod, providing an overview of our programs and practical ideas that units can use to more simply accomplish mission outreach.
A better understanding and simplification of American Legion Auxiliary programs means more members will get involved to help serve our veterans, active-duty military and their families.
To view a preview of the Mission Training DVD, and to learn more, click here.
Ole Semling Unit 135 in McVille, N.D. – “The Little Unit that Can” By Judy Twete, Unit 135 President, and Past Department President (2001-2002)
McVille, N.D. - a small, quiet town near the Sheyenne River Valley with a population of 450 on a good day (a good day is when no one has left town for shopping in our nearest large shopping city, Grand Forks). We are proud of our mostly Norwegian heritage and proud that we have some great attributes for a small community. We are lucky enough to have a nice grocery store, a hospital, care center, clinic, churches and a new assisted living facility.
It is not easy being small when we have to compete with larger cities, considering all that larger areas have to offer. We are very proud of what we have and continue to work hard to gain and maintain. That is why I would like to share with you how very proud we are of our American Legion Auxiliary Unit 135. We will put our strengths up against any larger unit.
We have an all-time-high membership of 151 for 2012, and of those, 16 are life members. Do you realize that is more than one-fourth of our town’s population? We have met our goal (numeric objective) for as many years as I can remember. We are proud of that fact, but we are even more proud of the fact that our median age is about 80. Oh, by the way, our membership goal is at least the same or larger than that city previously mentioned, and they have an Air Force base 14 miles outside of their city! Now that is a can-do attitude!
Each month, we serve a dinner preceding our unit meeting. Legionnaires are invited to the meal. We have an average of 18-25 members who attend the dinner and meeting. Read More