A Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families
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Let’s help our fellow members in hurricanes’ paths | |
Hurricane Helene has caused widespread destruction and fatalities across the southeastern United States, with at least 230 people dead and hundreds still unaccounted for. And today, a ferocious Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall on the west coast of Florida, bringing devastation in its path.The ALA’s Auxiliary Emergency Fund is available to members who have been affected by disaster, offering grant awards up to $3,000. But this assistance can only continue with your support. Make a difference by ensuring we have the funds now, and in the future, by donating to the Auxiliary Emergency Fund. Learn more and donate here: www.ALAforVeterans.org/AEF. | |
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Join us for a one-day ALA conference that’s both inspiring and educational! We’ll dive deep into our programs through interactive and engaging sessions, ensuring you leave with new insights and renewed energy. Mission Training covers many Auxiliary mission outreach programs, all presented in a fun and supportive environment. Here’s what you’ll learn in a 2024-2025 session:
- How do we evolve our membership to attract the next generation of members (and ultimately leaders)?
- Draw connections with all of our youth-centric programs to deliver our mission.
- The new face of veterans: How has the veteran community changed compared to even 20 years ago?
National Junior meetings will be held at the same time and in the same location as ALA Mission Trainings. Junior members aged 8 and older are invited to attend. These sessions are packed with fun, interactive activities designed to engage and inspire our youngest members.
Register now for a Mission Training or National Junior Meeting near you!
Nov. 16: Nashville, Tenn.
Nov. 16: Denver, Colo.
Jan. 25: Des Moines, Iowa
Feb. 1: Las Vegas, Nev.
Feb. 1: Boston, Mass.
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ALA Academy Live: So…You’re a Department Chair — Now What? | |
Join us Thursday, Oct. 17, at noon Eastern for this informative webinar for department (state) chairs. Whether you’re new to your leadership role or you’re a seasoned leader, you’ll gain insights into leveraging resources available for your ALA program. This webinar will provide strategies to help you excel in your role and enhance your leadership skills. After attending this webinar, attendees should be able to:
- Recognize effective strategies to maximize communication with committee members.
- Apply available resources to ensure success in your ALA leadership role.
- Know the correct process of completing year-end reporting and award submissions.
Register here!
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And don’t miss another webinar we’ve got coming up in November:
Children & Youth: Youth Hero and Good Deed Awards
Monday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m. Eastern
Workshop length: 30-45 minutes
This workshop is designed to teach unit members how to work on the ALA’s Youth Hero and Good Deed Awards program. You will learn tips and techniques to help you build a successful Youth Hero and Good Deed Awards program.
Watch our socials @ALAforVeterans for registration details!
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On Nov. 11, we encourage you to join the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation in paying tribute to our veterans. Let’s show them that their sacrifices are not forgotten — and that our community stands by their side — by making a gift to the ALA Foundation’s Veteran Projects Fund in honor of a servicemember in your life. You can give online here or text VETERAN to 1-844-940-3450. To learn more about the Veteran Projects Fund, visit www.ALAFoundation.org/grants. | |
Think you know everything about shipping? Think again. | |
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Whether you’re sending care packages to deployed troops, handling returns, sending packages for your small business, or simply shipping personal items, are you truly optimizing the process? If you’re still manually creating labels, juggling spreadsheets, and making frequent retail counter trips to ship, you might be missing out on a smarter, more efficient way.
ShipThrifty isn’t just another tool — it’s a game-changer. The platform simplifies label creation, cuts costs, and eliminates the need for cumbersome manual tracking. Whether you’re shipping care packages, business returns, or personal items, ShipThrifty’s platform adapts to your needs, saving you time and money. Plus, you can schedule pickups to save even more time. Learn more.
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The ALA Americanism Essay Contest cover sheet is now online. The 2024-2025 theme: “What does America the Beautiful mean to me (regarding veterans and our military)?”
Do you have the current officers displayed? Legion post homes and ALA offices often display their commander and president photos, along with the national-level leaders. You can always find our current national president photo available for download here. ALA national officers are elected every August, and the new photos are posted on the website directly after.
ALA-ify your Halloween! Order or download our ALA Halloween coloring books! These easy-to-use publications are a great way to spread awareness of our organization and our important mission to families in your community while also giving Halloween treats to kids.
Renew your 2025 membership dues in three easy ways! You can pay your annual dues by phone, online, or mail. Go to www.ALAforVeterans.org, call (317) 569-4570, or mail in your renewal notice.
Plan now for Wreaths Across America Day! You can become a sponsorship group or sponsor a wreath for the Dec. 14 event. Learn more here.
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Request to join our official ALA program and committee groups on Facebook
Discover what your fellow ALA members are saying in the committee Facebook groups! These easy-to-access forums provide an arena for organic discussion about your local programs or services and present the opportunity to cultivate brand awareness. Find the list of groups here.
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2024 National Convention amendments discussed, voted on | |
At the 103rd ALA National Convention, delegates met to debate and vote on nine amendments to the national Constitution & Bylaws. Here’s a review of the votes on each amendment and the impacts on the organization at all levels. Read more. | |
Get to know 2024-2025 ALA National President Trish Ward | |
2024-2025 American Legion Auxiliary National President Trish Ward is the third ALA national president from the Department of Kansas and is a Paid Up For Life member of John P. Hand Unit 250. Read more. | |
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Oct. 13 — U.S. Navy’s birthday
Oct. 21-25 — Buddy Check Week
Oct. 31 — Halloween
Nov. 5 – Election Day
Nov. 10 — American Legion Auxiliary’s 105th birthday
Nov. 10 — U.S. Marine Corps birthday
Nov. 11 — Veterans Day | ALA Foundation’s Veterans Day of Giving
Nov. 16 — ALA Mission Training and National Junior Meeting in Nashville, Tenn.
Nov. 16 — ALA Mission Training and National Junior Meeting in Denver, Colo.
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What does your unit do to support veterans and their families during the holidays? | |
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“American Legion Auxiliary Unit 50 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, gathers donated items for the gift bags to give to the Jack C. Montgomery Veterans Medical Center. The bags include items such as sweatpants, hats, gloves, and scarves. We also have a member who makes lap quilts for them year-round.”
— Marsha Gross, Oklahoma
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Buddy Check Week is Oct. 21-25
The American Legion considers one of its membership’s most sacred responsibilities to look out for each other and fellow veterans. Since May 2019, by way of Resolution No. 18, Legionnaires have been urged to conduct Buddy Checks during the weeks of The American Legion’s birthday, March 15, and around Veterans Day. The result has been more than 1 million veterans getting a phone call, email, text message or in-person visit, just to see how each of them is doing.
This year’s U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Buddy Check Week — which became a VA program in 2023 following the passage of the Legion-supported The STRONG Veterans Act of 2022 — will take place Oct. 21-25. A Veteran Buddy Check Summit is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., and will include representatives from The American Legion.
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Memorial complete
After more than a decade of planning, the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., is officially complete. The final piece, A Soldier’s Journey, was illuminated for the very first time on Sept. 13.
In 2013, an act of Congress created the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission to create the memorial, located in Pershing Park, 14th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, near the White House. The World War One Centennial Commission’s goal in the memorial is to raise awareness of WWI and our nation’s participation. The American Legion is a commemorative sponsor of the commission. Read more here.
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Legion Family Merchandise
Show your support by buying from
American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales.
Shop now
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The American Legion Legislative Center
The ALA supports the legislative agenda of The American Legion.
Get involved.
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In the spirit of Service Not Self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace, and security. | | | | |
