A Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families
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May is Military Appreciation Month – and includes National Poppy Day!
ALA members will be out in force on National Poppy Day (May 24 this year) and Memorial Day. The distribution of red crepe paper poppies not only raises funds to directly assist disabled and hospitalized veterans, but poppies also bring awareness to the public about the sacrifices our servicemembers made for their freedom.
One way ALA National Headquarters will bring awareness to the importance of this day is by hosting Virtual National Poppy Day. You can watch this program on Facebook starting on May 24 at noon ET. We encourage you to share this recording on your social media accounts.
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Pay tribute to fallen warriors on Memorial Day | |
On Memorial Day, May 27, American Legion Family members will honor the men and women who fought for our freedoms. Please take a moment this Memorial Day to pause while you remember these heroes, and wear your poppy with pride. | |
Military spouses are the heroes behind the scenes. Their continued dedication and sacrifices help keep our country safe and our servicemembers secure. Military spouses deserve our gratitude every day, but Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 10) is set aside specifically to honor and acknowledge the military spouses among us who continue to demonstrate Service Not Self. | |
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R. Riveter, a proud partner of the ALA, has crafted the 2024 Special Edition Hopper bag, inspired by the resilient poppies of Flanders Field. The Hopper isn't just a bag; it's your trusted companion for every journey. Its unique design ensures you stand out while honoring those who gave everything for us.
When you shop using our link, 15% of the purchase price will be donated back to the Auxiliary to support the programs of the ALA. Honor the legacy. Embrace the adventure.
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Wreaths Across America Day 2024 is Saturday, Dec. 14! Now is the time to start planning! Your unit can get involved and earn money while supporting our combined missions. Learn more about this program during our webinar “How Your Unit Can Work Our Mission and Earn Money with Wreaths Across America” on June 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
During this webinar, our guest speakers from WAA will share some history of Wreaths Across America, their partnership with the American Legion Auxiliary, our sponsorship program, and the tools available to help make this a successful endeavor for units nationwide.
➡️ Register now.
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If your Auxiliary unit, district/county, or department is hosting a local Veterans Creative Arts Festival or has identified a new one-time need in your community to benefit veterans and military families, the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation wants to help! Apply for a grant today! | The Auxiliary Emergency Fund (AEF) is a national grant assistance program that provides financial assistance to eligible members of the American Legion Auxiliary who have endured a significant financial setback as the result of an act of nature or another personal crisis. When you donate $100 or more to AEF, you will receive a “Members Helping Members” lapel pin while supplies last. This pin will be discontinued once it's out of stock; make your donation and get yours before they’re gone! Donate online. | |
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How far can our poppy go? Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and share our “Pass the Poppy!” post. Let’s see where it lands! Every time you pass the poppy, you increase awareness about its meaning!
Do you know a member, unit, department, etc., deserving of an ALA national award? Nominations for the 2023-2024 administrative year are due June 1. The awards for each committee can be found here.
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The May issue of Auxiliary magazine is in mailboxes and online. In this issue, we learn how American Legion Family members advocate for our mission, we hear from women veterans who are also ALA members, and much more. Did an article stand out to you, or did you learn something new from this issue? Let us know!
Tell us how you feel about Auxiliary magazine! A select number of readers will be surveyed at random this month via a printed questionnaire and through email. If you weren’t one of these members but still want to provide feedback, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you!
The next issue of ALA Today (a newsletter all about ALA National Headquarters happenings) will be out later this month and is accessible via the national website! Through your member-login, you can access current and previous issues of this publication at your convenience. ALA Today is a special project created by ALANHQ staff members to give our wonderful volunteers a backstage pass to all the work being done at National Headquarters. It’s a fun monthly newsletter filled with the latest ALANHQ updates, great pictures of staff in action, and live links to meeting registrations, Legion Family information, upcoming events, national resources, and so much more. We can’t wait for you to see all that we do here at NHQ!
Have you heard about the expansion to the national Junior Member of the Year (JMOY) program? Instead of a single JMOY, we have created five division JMOYs — one for each ALA division — and added a scholarship for each division JMOY award recipient. For more information, click here or email JuniorActivities@ALAforVeterans.org.
Flag Day is June 14! Government and businesses can buy flags/equipment from American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales, an approved entity that can sell flags and flag display equipment to government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels. American Legion Family members can help raise awareness about the American Legion Auxiliary and generate revenue for the Legion Family by encouraging government and businesses to buy USA-made flags and flag equipment from Emblem Sales. Any VA facility, company, church, civic organization, or the public can buy flags and flag items from Emblem Sales.
Has your membership expired? You can still renew for 2024 and continue serving veterans, military, and their families. You can renew your membership in three easy ways: online, phone, or mail. Go to www.ALAforVeterans.org, call (317) 569-4570, or mail in your renewal notice.
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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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Each year, Junior members who attend the national Junior meetings held in conjunction with ALA Mission Training work on a service project to benefit our veterans, military, their families, and communities. A project this administrative year was similar to the Kindness Rocks initiative — take one when you need one, share one with a friend who needs some inspiration, or leave one for another. Want to do this project at the unit or department level? Read more. | |
American Legion Resolution No. 9 encourages the hosting of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) S.A.V.E. training classes in support of Be the One — the Legion’s suicide prevention mission to save the lives of veterans and destigmatize asking for mental health support. The VA S.A.V.E. training is a free online or in-person course taught by a VA suicide prevention coordinator who gives you the tools to help a veteran in crisis or having thoughts of suicide. Learn more. | |
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May – Military Appreciation Month
May – Month of the Military Caregiver
May 8 – VE Day
May 10 – Military Spouse Appreciation Day
May 12 – Mother’s Day
May 13 – Children of Fallen Patriots Day
May 18 – Armed Forces Day
May 24 – National Poppy Day
May 27 – Memorial Day
June – PTSD Awareness Month
June 6 – D-Day
June 12 – Women Veterans Recognition Day
June 14 – Flag Day
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What does the poppy mean to you? | |
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“The poppy reminds me of heartbreak and hope at the same time. I remember all the souls lost so that we may have our freedom. I also know the donations specifically help veterans and active-duty military to have their needs met.”
— Maribeth Hannon, Ohio
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Be the One training available to Legion Family members
As part of The American Legion’s Be the One mission to end veteran suicide, The American Legion has joined forces with Columbia University to develop training for those who want to learn more about interacting and responding with veterans who may be in crisis.
After the training, participants will be able to:
- Use the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to determine at-risk individuals.
- Identify risk factors and warning signs.
- Outline the types of suicidal ideation and four behaviors that indicate imminent risk.
- Communicate effectively with an individual who may be at risk of hurting themselves.
Members of The American Legion Family are encouraged to take part in this training and share the training with their communities.
The next two trainings are May 16 and May 30. Learn more and register today.
National Oratorical Contest coming up
Fifty-two high school students will participate in The American Legion National Oratorical Contest in Hillsdale, Mich., May 18-19. The students will speak on the U.S. Constitution and compete for over $203,000 in scholarships.
Each department (state) winner who participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $2,000 scholarship. The 18 semifinalists will receive an additional $2,000. And the three finalists will compete for first place and a $25,000 scholarship. Second and third place will earn $22,500 and $20,000 respectively.
After 26 years of the contest being held in Indianapolis, this is the first year for the program to be held on the campus of Hillsdale College.
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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.
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