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ALA Stories

  • Everyone has a positive ALA story to tell. Through the power of story, we hope these stories will inspire and encourage you. We want to experience your story too.

    Click here to find out how you can share your ALA story.  
    Wisconsin woman finds fulfillment helping others as an ALA member
    ALA Stories

    Wisconsin woman finds fulfillment helping others as an ALA member

    Following the death of her husband, a U.S. Air Force veteran, about 14 years ago — and her retirement in 1997, Jean Rew wondered what would be next for her. She found her answer when she joined the American Legion Auxiliary.

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    U.S. Navy veteran joins ALA, continues selfless service
    ALA Stories

    U.S. Navy veteran joins ALA, continues selfless service

    American Legion Auxiliary member and U.S. Navy veteran Kim Vincent has a passion for aiding military veterans and active-duty members of the Armed Forces any way she can.

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    Multi-generational membership within The American Legion Family is her family’s tradition
    ALA Stories

    Multi-generational membership within The American Legion Family is her family’s tradition

    American Legion Auxiliary member Peggye McBean takes great pride in knowing that three generations of her family are continuing a tradition of membership and participation within The American Legion Family.

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    ALA members crochet blankets, hats for stillborn babies and preemies
    ALA Stories

    ALA members crochet blankets, hats for stillborn babies and preemies

    As part of the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization, American Legion Auxiliary members are known for their selfless service and good deeds done for our nation’s veterans, military, and their families.

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    ALA member turns 110 years old, shows that selfless service is timeless
    ALA Stories

    ALA member turns 110 years old, shows that selfless service is timeless

    Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you meet someone who’s seen so much more. Meet 110-year-old American Legion Auxiliary member Pauline Angleman. In Angleman’s lifetime, there have been two world wars, 20 U.S. Presidents, hundreds of monumental inventions … and the establishment of the ALA in 1919.

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Multiple generations of ALA membership is this family’s pride and honor
    ALA Stories

    Multiple generations of ALA membership is this family’s pride and honor

    It’s a special bond for Cynthia Eggers and her family: having three generations of membership and participation in the American Legion Auxiliary — the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. Eggers’ mother Maxine Bottema, her sisters Andrea Jordan and Melissa Sienknecht, Cynthia’s daughter Justina Eggers, and Cynthia’s nieces Adelyn Sienknecht and Alaney Sienknecht all belong to ALA Unit 127 in Gladbrook, Iowa.

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    Diversity within its membership is one of ALA’s strengths
    ALA Stories

    Diversity within its membership is one of ALA’s strengths

    American Legion Auxiliary member Carol Long sees diversity as one of the strengths of the ALA.

    “We keep the vision of the American Legion Auxiliary in sight. That vision is not dividing ourselves because of the color of our skin, different cultures or whatever. That vision is about unifying to help our veterans, and all of the other great work ALA members do,” said Long, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Long is a member of Unit 143 in Cherokee, N.C.

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    Knitting circle member gets hooked on ALA and its selfless mission’
    ALA Stories

    Knitting circle member gets hooked on ALA and its selfless mission

    Melanie Findley walked into American Legion Auxiliary Unit 500 in Speedway, Ind. as part of a local knitting circle allowed to gather there after the circle outgrew its meeting place. She didn’t expect to find a veterans service organization whose mission was so in line with her values. But she did.

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    An ALA member’s decades of distributing poppies for donations that help veterans: ‘Time well spent’
    ALA Stories

    An ALA member’s decades of distributing poppies for donations that help veterans: ‘Time well spent’

    With every red crepe paper poppy flower she has distributed through the decades in exchange for donations to help veterans, servicemembers, and their families, American Legion Auxiliary member Sara Brogan took pride in knowing she was making a difference. She called her poppy distribution efforts “time well spent.”

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    A lifelong passion for the ALA Poppy Program and its purpose
    ALA Stories

    A lifelong passion for the ALA Poppy Program and its purpose

    Marion Roche-Carlos, a 40-year-old lifelong American Legion Auxiliary member, is known for selflessly giving her all to every ALA mission-based action she takes. Signed up for ALA membership by her grandfather, U.S. Army Air Corps World War II veteran Joseph Rocha when she was a baby, Roche-Carlos virtually grew up within the ALA.

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    Offering support to a veteran’s widow adds meaning to her ALA membership
    ALA Stories

    Offering support to a veteran’s widow adds meaning to her ALA membership

    As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, aiding – and showing appreciation for – many veterans, servicemembers, and military families is a big part of what motivates Vernel Beasha Warren to remain part of ALA – the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization.

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    Helping veterans learn about benefits makes her ALA membership meaningful
    ALA Stories

    Helping veterans learn about benefits makes her ALA membership meaningful

    American Legion Auxiliary member Hazel Panoushek of Unit 49 in Fair Haven, Vt., finds meaning in her ALA membership in knowing she is paying it forward with each mission-based action she takes, especially those that aid and show appreciation for U.S. military veterans.

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Visiting veterans in nursing homes reminds ALA member that ‘It’s not about me’
    ALA Stories

    Visiting veterans in nursing homes reminds ALA member that ‘It’s not about me’

    Being there for veterans in nursing homes who have no family and no visitors – seeing those veterans’ smiles and hearing the appreciation in their voices – that’s what makes Nancy B. Ott’s American Legion Auxiliary membership meaningful, she said.

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    Take time to ask
    ALA Stories

    Take time to ask

    "I have learned one of the biggest reasons potential members don't join the Auxiliary is simply because they are never asked."

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    Arkansas ALA Unit 158 goes above and beyond for veterans
    ALA Stories

    Arkansas ALA Unit 158 goes above and beyond for veterans

    On December 18, 2017, ALA Junior Ashlynne Jenkins and ALA senior members JoAlla Nutt and Charlotte Purdy delivered more than 600 donated items to veterans at Fort Roots VA Hospital in North Little Rock, Ark. Throughout the year, ALA members received donations from their ALA family as well as the community to provide hygiene products, clothing, blankets, puzzle books, reading glasses, hand-crocheted items, hats, scarves, blankets, and more to the veterans.

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    Morale Boosted through Troop Shipping Events
    ALA Stories

    Morale Boosted through Troop Shipping Events

    ALA Unit 291 in Newport Beach, Calif. organized two Troop Shipping events in June and November 2017. They shipped over 500 boxes to Blue Star troops, including K9, as well as sent supplies to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, and March Air Reserve Base Deployment Center in Riverside.

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    ALA West Virginia Unit 71 brings Wreaths Across America to Edge Hill Cemetery
    ALA Stories

    ALA West Virginia Unit 71 brings Wreaths Across America to Edge Hill Cemetery

    "I've been sponsoring wreaths for probably close to 10 years now," said West Virginia Jackson-Perks ALA Unit 71 officer Anne Quinn, who first experienced National Wreaths Across America (WAA) Day while attending Arlington National Cemetery's commemoration with friends from the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment.

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    California Junior Organizes Toiletry Drive - Katie's Story
    ALA Stories

    California Junior Organizes Toiletry Drive - Katie's Story

    For the second year, Junior member Katie Toye, 17, organized her Toiletry Drive to benefit veterans and active duty servicemembers in San Mateo County, Calif.

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    Big Things Small Units Can Do
    ALA Stories

    Big Things Small Units Can Do

    Margie Abbott's pictorial story shared on Facebook demonstrates what big things a small unit - 23 members - can do. They put their mission in action making cookies for troops in Middleton, Del. and collaborated with several groups and organizations within their community to bless our servicemembers.

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    Veterans food convoy delivers gratitude
    ALA Stories

    Veterans food convoy delivers gratitude

    ALA Idaho Unit 56 in Idaho Falls collected food donated by hundreds of students, for the annual American Legion Family Food Convoy to assist the Pocatello Veterans Home.

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    ALA Member Carol Glassburn receives lifetime achievement award from governor
    ALA Stories

    ALA Member Carol Glassburn receives lifetime achievement award from governor

    Carol Glassburn, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 13 years, was honored on November 2, 2017, by Gov. Doug Ducey with a lifetime achievement award for having exemplified the ideals of servant leadership.

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    Puppet show demonstrates patriotism
    ALA Stories

    Puppet show demonstrates patriotism

    The talented team from the ALA Department of South Dakota’s Unit 131 presented a patriotic puppet show on the Pledge of Allegiance to the kindergarten class at the Valley Springs Elementary School, Valley Springs, S.D.

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    Meet Ms. Sarah Brooks, the first recipient of the ALA Lifetime Achievement Award
    ALA Stories

    Meet Ms. Sarah Brooks, the first recipient of the ALA Lifetime Achievement Award

    91-year-old American Legion Auxiliary member Sarah Brooks has served our American heroes for 56 years at Michigan’s Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.

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    ALA service in honor and support of our youngest, dedicated servicemembers
    ALA Stories

    ALA service in honor and support of our youngest, dedicated servicemembers

    I thought, Someone has got to support them. I decided then and there anything I could do for the Auxiliary in honor of the dedication and heart of these young people, I said, “Bring it on.”

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    Care and encouragement for our servicemembers overseas
    ALA Stories

    Care and encouragement for our servicemembers overseas

    ALA Maryland Unit 11 sends care packages to deployed servicemembers. “[It's about] the encouragement,” said Jamie Clevenger, “[and] letting them know we are thinking of them. Even if you just send a thank-you card, I am sure it makes them feel good, and they are still cared about here at home."

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    An American Legion Family Christmas tradition
    ALA Stories

    An American Legion Family Christmas tradition

    An American Legion Family Christmas tradition still going strong in Jasper, Ind., after 80 years. Sisters Anna Messier, 79, Louise Schitter, 88, and Sally Rees, 92, became active in the American Legion Auxiliary and took their turns running the Christmas party.

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    American Legion Auxiliary Unit 71 hosts 8th Annual VAMC picnic
    ALA Stories

    American Legion Auxiliary Unit 71 hosts 8th Annual VAMC picnic

    American Legion Auxiliary Unit 71 in Charlestown, W.Va., hosted the 8th Annual VAMC picnic.

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    What American Legion Auxiliary membership means to me
    ALA Stories

    What American Legion Auxiliary membership means to me

    Watch Angie Golightly’s video as she shares her ALA story in her own words – for God and Country!

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    Legion Family building POW MIA memorial at state headquarters in Maine
    ALA Stories

    Legion Family building POW MIA memorial at state headquarters in Maine

    Legion Family project will build a POW/MIA memorial that will have a brick for each of the 440 servicemembers unaccounted for from Maine.

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    Birthday Surprise for Karen Brewster
    ALA Stories

    Birthday Surprise for Karen Brewster

    Brewster, a member of ALA Unit 234 in Northborough, Mass., received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award by the Family Readiness Group (FRG)

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    Strength in mentorships: How one American Legion Auxiliary member is making a difference in the life of a teen
    ALA Stories

    Strength in mentorships: How one American Legion Auxiliary member is making a difference in the life of a teen

    Madelaine Hyder, 2016 - 2017 honorary Junior president, ALA Department of South Carolina Unit 6, shares her ALA story as a guest blogger on the American Legion Auxiliary Blog.

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    Finding New York Faces Service Project
    ALA Stories

    Finding New York Faces Service Project

    Sue Britton, ALA Department of New York, started Finding the New York Faces, a search for missing photos in hopes of adding the faces of those who sacrificed so much to the virtual Vietnam Veteran’s memorial wall.

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    Trolling with the Troops
    ALA Stories

    Trolling with the Troops

    Scott Mann organized “Trolling with the Troops,” a free fishing trip for military veterans in August 2017 with the availability for 15 charter fishing boats, enough space for 58 veterans.

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    ALA unit supporting prestigious civic program
    ALA Stories

    ALA unit supporting prestigious civic program

    The recently formed George D. Reiff American Legion Auxiliary Unit in Crown King, Ariz., is already thinking ahead. As part of becoming a brand new “baby unit” in the nearly 750,000 member strong national ALA organization, they were given a baby girl doll that they subsequently named “Orabelle.” As good parents, they are already raising funds for Orabelle’s future.

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    Bicentennial year brings first for ALA Girls Nation
    ALA Stories

    Bicentennial year brings first for ALA Girls Nation

    During the nation’s bicentennial year, the first and only joint three-week session of ALA Girls Nation and American Legion Boys Nation (150 boys and 150 girls) was held on the American University Campus in Washington, D.C.

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    Twiddlemuffs – an ALA story in a box
    ALA Stories

    Twiddlemuffs – an ALA story in a box

    “What an amazing and creative way to tell your story,” Brand Growth Advocate Shanna Gregor said to the Communications Team at National Headquarters as she opened a box from Gold Star Unit 191 in Mount Airy, Md. The box revealed a letter, a thumb drive containing a video of Unit 191’s project, and two unique and fun Twiddlemuffs.

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    ALA Unit 214 in Willoughby, Ohio, shares its story weekly through radio
    ALA Stories

    ALA Unit 214 in Willoughby, Ohio, shares its story weekly through radio

    “When a local radio station in Willoughby announced it was looking for groups to host shows on WINT Integrity Radio 1330am, or 101.5FM, Palmer-Roberts ALA Unit 214 decided it would explore the possibility of doing a show about who we are, what we do, and why we matter.

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    Widespread Effort Delivers Necessities to VA Hospital Campaign
    ALA Stories

    Widespread Effort Delivers Necessities to VA Hospital Campaign

    The news article begins: “A project designed to help veterans started in Rouses Point and spread to other local communities, resulting in a response that is being called ‘amazing.’” Judy Bergeron, a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 912 in Rouses Point, N.Y., began an effort to collect items for men and women at the Albany/Stratton Veterans Hospital, using a list provided by the facility … and it grew from there.

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    ALA Department of Florida's Generous Donation Provides for Women Veterans and Their Children
    ALA Stories

    ALA Department of Florida's Generous Donation Provides for Women Veterans and Their Children

    A gift of more than $105,000 from the ALA Department of Florida will provide nine women veterans and their children a place to live for two years. The donation was presented during ALA Department of Florida’s state convention to veteran Jas Booth, founder of the nonprofit Final Salute Inc., which provides homeless women veterans and their children with safe and suitable housing.

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    ALA Stories

    70 Years of Continuous Community Service

    Service Not Self. It’s a way of life, one that has long inspired the same passion and dedication in this local chapter of the American Legion Auxiliary. Through countless volunteer hours, members of Smith-Hoover Unit 281 in Harbor Springs, Mich., have been giving back to veterans, their families, and the community at large for more nearly a century. This year marks the 70th continuous year of service for Unit 281, which reorganized in 1947 after becoming inactive in the 1930s.


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    ALA Unit 360 participates in the Wilkes-Barre VA's Summer Carnival
    ALA Stories

    ALA Unit 360 participates in the Wilkes-Barre VA's Summer Carnival

    ALA Unit 360 in Weatherly, Pa., participated in the Wilkes-Barre VA's Summer Carnival on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The veterans enjoyed going around to different tables and picking out things they liked. There were great food items: hot dogs, potato pancakes, barbeque, baked goods, ice cream, and beverages. A deejay provided music, and "Elvis" was in the house.

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    Bringing a thread of hope to our heroes
    ALA Stories

    BRINGING A THREAD OF HOPE TO OUR HEROES

    Local news media referred to American Legion Auxiliary Unit 927 in Gilbert, Pa., as “a group of women … bringing ‘a thread of hope’ to our heroes.” Watch this inspiring story of how ALA members are making their membership meaningful with a promise to distribute 80 lap quilts for war veterans in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities in December, as an early Christmas gift for veterans.

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    Unknowns at Night
    ALA Stories

    TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER RECEIVES GIFT OF LIGHT

    Honorary Past National President Miriam Junge shares a powerful ALA story.

    Did you know that The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, while in Washington for their meetings in March 1969, celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a dinner attended by over 3,000 people, including members of Congress? And in conjunction with the dinner, the national commander on behalf of both organizations presented a gift to the nation, which was a permanent lighting system at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

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  • ALA Brochures

     
    • The American Legion Family Membership Brochure (pdf)
    • ALA Youth Programs Brochure (pdf)
    • ALA Advocacy Guide (pdf)
    • Auxiliary Emergency Fund Brochure (pdf)
    • Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Guide (pdf)
    • ALA Member Benefits (pdf)
    • ALA Foundation Brochure (pdf)
    • Giving Opportunities Brochure
    • Planned Giving Guide
    • ALA Membership Application (pdf)
    • ALA Membership Application (pdf) | Spanish Version
    • Paid Up for Life Membership Application (PUFL)
    • PUFL rates for $50 + dues
     
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