American Legion Auxiliary

The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) is an auxiliary organization of the American Legion composed of spouses, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, and sisters of American war veterans. Founded in 1919, the ALA is dedicated to serving veterans, military, and their families.

American Legion Auxiliary
MottoA Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families
Established1919
TypePatriotic service organization
PurposeSupporting The American Legion and honoring veterans, military, and their families.
Headquarters3450 Founders Road, Indianapolis, Indiana
Region served
Worldwide
Official language
English
National President
Nicole Clapp
National Vice President
Kathy Daudistel
PublicationAuxiliary Magazine
AffiliationsThe American Legion,
Sons of The American Legion,
American Legion Riders
Websitealaforveterans.org

History

After the end of World War I in 1918, 20 officers who had served in the American Expeditionary Forces were asked to suggest ideas for improving troop morale. One officer, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., proposed an organization of veterans, the American Legion. After its formation in 1919, a number of existing women's organizations wanted to become the official affiliate of the Legion. The committee decided to create a new organization made up of the women most closely associated with the men of the Legion. This Auxiliary would perform those phases of Legion activities that were more suitably performed by women. In less than one year, 1,342 local units in 45 states of the Women’s Auxiliary to the American Legion had been organized.[1]

In 1954, the American Legion Auxiliary organized "Operation Book Swap" in which hardcover books were handed out to children in exchange for turning in ten comic books. This was largely a response to the publication and publicity of Fredric Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent. The collected comics were then publicly burned or destroyed.[2]

Eligibility

In 2019, the American Legion's National Convention voted to replace the word "wife" with "spouse" in the organization’s constitution and bylaws section regarding eligibility to be a member of the American Legion Auxiliary; since then, male and female spouses of U.S. veterans have been eligible. Previously, only female spouses of U.S. veterans were.[3]

Programs

The American Legion Auxiliary's mission outreach committees are Americanism, Children and Youth, Community Service, Education, ALA Girls Nation, Junior Activities, Legislative, National Security, Poppy, and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation.

ALA members who work these programs help provide scholarships to military children; bring veterans to classrooms; give young women leaders an opportunity to learn how the federal government works; allow girls to develop leadership skills through volunteer experiences and other activities; advocate for veterans by supporting legislative priorities that benefit them; promote the poppy to raise awareness and respect for veterans who have died; and host stand downs and other events to improve the lives of veterans in the community.

Notable Members

References
  1. "American Legion Auxiliary Decades of Making a Difference". American Legion Auxiliary. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  2. Hajdu, David (2008). The ten-cent plague : the great comic-book scare and how it changed America. Blackstone Audiobooks. pp. 294–301. ISBN 9781433210280.
  3. "Membership in the American Legion Auxiliary now open to male spouses of U.S. veterans and servicemembers".
  4. Binheim, Max; Elvin, Charles A (1928). Women of the West; a series of biographical sketches of living eminent women in the eleven western states of the United States of America. Retrieved 8 August 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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