The Flagpole Newsletter Edition 124 | November 2026

AWF 2026 LEADERSHIP FORUM RECAP

Another successful AUSA Leadership Forum for the books! On Monday, October 12, 2026, the U.S. Army Women’s Foundation gathered five leaders for our “In This Together” panel. The two-hour forum opened with a live storytelling demonstration by Maureen Elias, was moderated by COL (Ret) Kathy Turner, and featured five military leaders – CMSAF (Ret) Joanne S. Bass, SSG (Ret) Herm Breuer, Ms. Sue Fulton, CPT (Ret) Niki Marin, and CW5 (Ret) Phyllis Wilson.

Thank you to all who attended and supported the AWF Leadership Symposium! In case you weren't able to make it, watch the recorded forum here.

Wreaths Across America

On December 19, 2026, the US Army Women's Foundation will be helping Arlington National Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans by laying Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes.

Sponsor wreaths here.

Military Family Appreciation Month

(Photo credit: NCGWG)

Military Family Appreciation Month is celebrated annually in November, and it is a time to recognize and honor the sacrifices military families make and their support of the armed forces. The tradition of recognizing military families was established by the Armed Forces YMCA in November 1993 and a proclamation was signed declaring November Military Family Month in 2009.

2027 AWF Legacy Scholarship Application NOW Open

AWF is now accepting applications for the Legacy Scholarship Program. Online applications and all required documentation must be received by January 21, 2027.

National Native American Indian Heritage Observance

History in the Making: Charles Gitten Screenplay & Showing

This November, an extraordinary chapter of American history comes to the stage with Out From the Shadow, a theatrical production based on the book by Maurice A. Butler chronicling the life and legacy of Charles L. Gittens, the first African American special agent in the United States Secret Service. The production opens November 13, 2026, in Temple Hills, MD, bringing audiences the story of a man who broke racial barriers while serving his country during a pivotal period in American history.

To learn more, visit shannonwhrenentertainment.com.

Happy Thanksgiving

Save The Date

Stay tuned for more info.

Meet the AWF Board

Sponsor Spotlight

The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is a non-partisan, non-government museum and library that attempts to increase the public understanding of military history and the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served. In a democratic society, it is important for people of all viewpoints to have an open, public forum to discuss the past, present, and future of the military. Through its collection and programs, the Museum & Library is dedicated to serving as a forum for those discussions and preserving them for future generations. The mission of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is to acquire and maintain an accessible collection of materials and to develop appropriate programs focusing on the citizen-soldier in the preservation of democracy.

Since opening in 2003, the Museum & Library has hosted over 500 events featuring the country’s most acclaimed authors, historians, journalists, and scholars.  The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is open to the public and features an extensive collection of books, artifacts, and rotating exhibits covering many eras and branches of the military. It is a center where citizens and soldiers come together to learn about military history and the role of the military in a democracy. The Pritzker Museum & Library is supported by its members and sponsors.