National ALA committee application still open!

The application process for 2026-2027 national committee appointments is open until Jan. 1, 2026. National committee chairs and members are appointed annually and confirmed by the National Executive Committee to serve on a wide variety of ALA committees for you to explore. All members are eligible to apply. Go to our blog to learn more about the various positions and their responsibilities.

Apply here before Jan. 1!

Members are encouraged to volunteer for Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service

Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service on Jan. 19 provides the ALA opportunities to host or participate in volunteer activities throughout our communities in honor of the Rev. Dr. King. ALA units and members are encouraged to use this day to make a difference in their communities and in the lives of our veterans by volunteering their time, talent, and compassion. Here’s a list of the types of activities the ALA can host or participate in on this day:

• Coordinate a community cleanup — parks, schools, neighborhoods, or cemeteries that honor veterans.
• Collect and distribute hygiene kits to people experiencing homelessness.
• Sponsor a food drive for local food pantries or veteran families in need.
• Partner with your Junior members for a multi-generational service project, such as assembling care packages or making no-sew blankets.
• Sponsor an MLK Day Reflection Program highlighting the Rev. Dr. King’s commitment to service and equality, tying in the ALA mission.
• Collaborate with local service organizations (American Red Cross, shelters, food banks) to join large-scale community volunteer events.
• Deliver baked goods or thank-you baskets to first responders.

For more information, check out the ALA Community Service webpage.

Mission Training and national Junior meetings coming up in January!

Winter national Junior meetings are approaching alongside Mission Training. Interested in learning more about our mission and becoming a stronger ALA member? Plan on going, then bring a Junior, or Juniors, along to learn valuable information and become well-rounded members and individuals. Juniors will have their own meetings happening where they’ll do service projects, meet new friends, and — most importantly — have fun!

What’s happening in the 2025-2026 national Junior meetings?

• Hats for Heroes — a service project developed by ALA National President Pam Ray to give personal hygiene products to homeless veterans
• Learning the Pledge of Allegiance in American Sign Language
• Crafts, such as beaded keychains and America’s 250th birthday hats
• Receiving A Life of Service: The Story of Senator Tammy Duckworth book about a U.S Army veteran with many firsts in Congress

To learn more about the national Junior meeting activities, click here.

Winter meetings and trainings listed below:

• Jan. 31: Las Vegas
• Jan. 31: Indianapolis*
• Feb. 7: Atlanta*

Register here for both national Junior meetings and Mission Trainings.

*These events will be held with The American Legion’s National Regional Information Conference and the Sons of The American Legion Regional Meeting.

Join the USA 250 Challenge to celebrate America’s birthday

Join this challenge culminating with America’s birthday on July 4, 2026. Participants have three areas — fitness, mental wellness, and/or community service — they can engage in as part of a team, like an ALA unit, or as an individual. You can do one category or go the extra mile and do all three!

Register here for $30 and get a USA 250 Legion Family T-shirt and donate to a good cause. For more information on ways to fulfill the categories, go to the USA 250 Challenge website.

Want more than a T-shirt? Click here to look at other USA 250 Challenge merch!

SmileAssociate

The ALA National Headquarters has partnered with SmileAssociate, giving members, supporters, and friends an easy way to give back while shopping on Amazon. When you start your shopping at smileassociate.com/alahq, Amazon donates 1.5% of your eligible purchases to the Spirit of Youth Scholarship Fund at no extra cost to you. Same shopping, same prices, same Prime perks, but now every gift you buy helps support scholarships for deserving students.

Peace of mind starts here

As an American Legion Auxiliary member, you have access to affordable, trusted legal support through Legal Resources. Whether you’re updating a will, reviewing a contract, navigating a family matter, or buying a home, your benefits are here to protect you during life’s most important moments.

Click here to explore your coverage and see how Legal Resources supports you and your family.

Wise Person Said: Lisa Mannion

U.S. Army combat veteran Lisa Mannion served active duty from 2012 to 2018 at Fort Bragg, N.C. As a combat veteran, she faced isolation, PTSD, and moral injury. As a music educator, she is passionate about veteran mental health and music education. Music therapy and songwriting have both helped Mannion heal and reconnect. Now, she performs at Chicago American Legion veteran events and leads group ukulele classes to help her fellow veterans heal through music.

Read more.

Honoring a father, other family members through membership in the Auxiliary

Many people join the ALA join to honor a veteran(s) in their life. For Anne Quinn, a Department of West Virginia member, ALA membership began to honor her father’s service. But he wasn’t the only veteran in her life. 

Read more.