Patriotism and veterans advocacy are so important to the American Legion Auxiliary that for a century, we’ve been serving, educating, and giving to America’s finest — our military.
We answer the call of Service Not Self. We are the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Some of us are veterans ourselves.
We are the American Legion Auxiliary. And we make a difference. You’ll find us in more than 8,000 local communities in the USA and in foreign countries. Founded in 1919 during the first National Convention of The American Legion, the ALA has grown to be one of the largest veterans support organizations. And we’d love for you to be part of our mission outreach.
We know that military service is a sacrifice for the whole family, so ALA members quietly look for ways to ease the burden — whatever it takes to get that family back on their feet physically, mentally, socially, and vocationally. If we don’t have the resources, we connect military families with our partners who do.
In honoring our veterans, one of our core values is to demonstrate and pass on respect for our country and our nation’s flag. We promote patriotic youth programs, most notably the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State and Girls Nation programs, held regionally and nationally, along with education programs, contests, and scholarships in local school systems.
Making our communities better places in which to live is another core value put into action by American Legion Auxiliary members every day across the country. Whether hosting a stand down to bring vital health and support services to homeless veterans, or coordinating a send-off or welcome-home event for a deployed military unit, ALA members are continuously at work in their communities, demonstrating the compassion and heart we have for those who serve our country and protect our freedoms.
We are the American Legion Auxiliary.
We are called to serve.
We respect our country and the service of those who defend our freedoms.
We are loyal to our United States Constitution and to those who protect it.
We are humbled by the courage of our veterans and their families.
We are alone, yet we stand together.
We are of every color. We are of every faith.
We are of every age.
We are anyone and everyone.
We are common and extraordinary.
We are citizens.
We live in small towns.
We live in suburbs.
We live in cities.
We work in fields, in factories, warehouses, offices, at home.
We are a community. We help one another.
We love our flag and all that it stands for.
We are many. We are one.
We are the American Legion Auxiliary. A Community of Volunteers
Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families.
We commit ourselves to the ideal: Service Not Self.
"You have to be there to see it. The joy you get from the veterans, the appreciation they show you. Some of them have been kind of estranged from their families, so this is a way for them to get back in their families’ lives. You see that every year, and you want to go back and help again."
- Linda Liebenow, ALA Christmas Gift Shop Volunteer: 1997-present and member of Auxiliary Unit 6 in Hillsboro, Ore.
