The month of May and National Poppy Day
May is a time of year when the poppy is distributed by American Legion Auxiliary members in communities across the country. You’ll find our members in small towns and big cities talking about the poppy — the symbol of sacrifice our military has made — and inspire people to make a donation that will help our veterans, military, and their families. We all need that red flower to remind us to honor the fallen and support the living on National Poppy Day® and every day.
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Watch this special video to learn more about why we wear a poppy on National Poppy Day.
- Need some resources to promote your poppy activities? Go here for banners, posters, coloring books, media templates, and more.
- Stock up on poppy supplies and branded items here.
- An American Legion Memorial Day speech for 2025 is available for American Legion departments, districts, and posts to use for Memorial Day events.
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2025 a milestone for ALA’s involvement with National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, which started Sunday and runs until May 18, is held in Indianapolis this year — ALA National Headquarters’ home city! But that’s not the only milestone: Our nonprofit has been involved with the Festival for 25 years at many levels of collaboration, and has been the co-presenter since 2014, alongside the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Festival brings together creative veterans throughout the country who made it to the national level after competing at their local VA facilities. Judging at the national level takes place in 150 categories of visual art, creative writing, dance, drama, and music. Read more about our support of the Festival, and while you’re in Indy, stop by ALA National Headquarters for a visit! Watch our socials @ALAforVeterans for frequent updates and pics from this year’s Festival.
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Get recognized: Apply for the Department Merit Medallion Award
The American Legion Auxiliary has seen in recent years that small-town rural environments are struggling, leadership capacity is dwindling, membership is aging and churning, and infrastructure is weakening. Since September, 2024-2025 National President Trish Ward has visited ALA departments (states) during her term to empower departments to build organizational excellence. To help motivate and guide departments, Ward established the Department Merit Medallion Award. There are five areas of focus. Download the award checklist here, and click here to complete the award application. Submission deadline is July 15. Award winners will receive a commemorative medal (see photo) and on-stage recognition at the ALA’s National Convention in Tampa, Fla., in August.
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Did you know you can submit the Salute to Servicemembers Award NOW?
We’ve made it much easier to submit for the ALA Salute to Servicemembers Award!
An ALA member/entity simply makes the nomination, rather than the servicemember, to effectively tell the story of why they feel this person is “head and shoulders” above their peers and worthy of this award. A simple narrative (no more than 1,000 words), a picture of the servicemember (preferably an official U.S. Department of Defense photo), and the endorsement from their command group are the only requirements!
You can submit now, and right up until the June 1 deadline! The nomination form is live now.
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More virtual meeting backgrounds
We’ve updated our selection of virtual backgrounds! Log in to the MyAuxiliary member portal and try them out at your next ALA meeting. Download here.
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Check out this June grant writing workshop
Veteran Projects Fund Grant Writing Workshop: Supporting Projects that Benefit Veterans and Military Families
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This workshop is designed to equip attendees with the tools and knowledge necessary to write a successful Veteran Projects Fund grant proposal focused on enhancing partnerships with external organizations that directly serve veterans and projects that enhance the lives of veterans and military families.
Webinar objectives:
- Understand the unique needs of veterans and military families and how to align your project with those needs.
- Develop a project that meets the Veteran Projects Fund criteria and complete a sample application.
- Gain practical strategies for developing compelling project narratives.
- Review how to effectively budget for your project.
>> June 3 at noon Eastern. Register here.
| | Mark those calendars: 2025-2026 ALA Mission Training dates | | |
Learn more about serving the American Legion Auxiliary’s mission, and network with your fellow members at our Mission Training events! 2025-2026 ALA Mission Training & National Junior Meeting dates and locations:
Nov. 15: Albany, N.Y.
Nov. 15: Minneapolis, Minn.
Jan. 31: Las Vegas, Nev.
Jan. 31: Indianapolis, Ind.*
Feb. 7: Atlanta, Ga.*
*These events will be held with The American Legion National Information Conference and the Sons of The American Legion Regional Meeting. Registration will open for all events on Aug. 27.
| | Calling all ALA Juniors ages 8-17! Have you seen the fabulous T-shirt that won the design contest for last year’s national Junior meetings (held during Mission Training events)? ALA Junior Rylee designed the T-shirt that everyone who attended a national Junior meeting last year received. Watch our socials at @ALAforVeterans so you can enter the contest in designing this year’s special T-shirt! | | The American Legion Auxiliary Foundation will give two awards in 2025! The Donor Champion Award will be given to the department that makes the largest per capita donation to the Foundation, and the Veterans Champion Award will be awarded to the department with the most approved grants. Awards will be based on grants given and donations received from June 1 – May 31. | | Attention, ALA units and departments! Here’s your chance to make a powerful impact! Veteran Projects Fund grants up to $10,000 are available to support new, one-time needs that directly benefit veterans and military families. Whether it’s furnishing common areas of a transitional housing facility, creating wellness spaces, or providing job readiness tools, your unit or department can help improve the lives of veterans working toward independence. Don’t wait — help build stability, dignity, and hope for those who served. Let’s turn great ideas into real support. Contact ALAF@ALAforVeterans.org or visit www.ALAFoundation.org/grants to learn more and get started! | |
Good luck to the ALA Girls State programs!
The first ALAGS programs start later this month. American Legion Auxiliary departments nationwide proudly host ALA Girls State, an amazing week of learning focused on responsible citizenship, leadership, and love for the ALA’s mission of serving veterans, military, and their families. Learn more.
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Get this ALA Girls State patch for Juniors.
ALA Girls State directors/chairs will be able to order a patch for any ALA Junior in good standing who attends their ALA Girls State program. The patch is in recognition of their accomplishments at ALAGS as a Junior member. Contact JuniorActivities@ALAforVeterans.org for more information.
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Congratulations to the American Legion Auxiliary’s 2024-2025 scholarship winners! See the listing of recipients here.
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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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Poppy makers reflect on importance of carrying on tradition
Memorial Day and Veterans Day are two major holidays when the red poppy is distributed at local supermarkets, area hardware stores, in front of American Legion post homes, and more locations throughout the country.
Read More
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Community outreach events bring new Auxiliary membership
The Niceville, Fla., American Legion Auxiliary and American Legion attract new members through themed burger nights and membership days.
Read More
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May – National Military Appreciation Month
May – Month of the Military Caregiver
May 11-18 – National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
May 17 – Armed Forces Day
May 23 – National Poppy Day
May 26 – Memorial Day
June – PTSD Awareness Month
June 6 – D-Day
June 12 – Women Veterans Recognition Day
June 14 – Flag Day
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“To me, it means to pay honor and respect to those who served in the military and passed on to glory, to those who were killed in action. They gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be free.”
— Joyce Cooper, Maryland
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Updated ‘Whole Child’ bookazine highlights Legion’s commitment to children and youth
“The Whole Child” bookazine has been updated for 2025 to reflect The American Legion’s continued commitment to children and youth. The bookazine highlights the origins of the Whole Child concept, ways The American Legion supports children and youth through its Temporary Financial Assistance program, Child Well-being Foundation and other advocacy efforts, and the impact made at the local, state, and national levels. Download “The Whole Child” under Youth & Family Support.
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Wanted: Your American Legion Baseball story
In celebration of American Legion Baseball turning 100, posts and players are encouraged to share their stories, photos, and more to commemorate this milestone. And American Legion posts and Legion Baseball alumni can help. If your post sponsors or has sponsored an American Legion Baseball team, or you played Legion Baseball, please share details and mementoes through the Baseball category on Legiontown.org.
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