National Security
Auxiliary members step up and reach out to help military families during deployments in very practical ways, such as assisting with their needs for child care and lawn work or by providing a listening ear to a spouse. For fun, a local Arizona unit held a poppy “Paint Nite” for the spouses of deployed airmen. That event was a pro bono event hosted by the Phoenix franchise owner of Paint Nite and organized by the Auxiliary unit. Members do helpful things hosting send-off and welcome-home events for our troops, providing them with pocket flags, and showing the gratitude of our nation by providing military families with Blue Star and Gold Star Banners. Auxiliary units are encouraged to partner with other organizations that serve the military, such as local USO affiliates and ROTC/JROTC units.
Community Service
Making our communities better places in which to live is something Auxiliary members strive for each and every day across this country. Whether it is 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, Auxiliary members are continuously at work in their communities, demonstrating the compassion and heart we have for those who serve our country and give so much. Community Service projects focus on enhancing the quality of life for veterans and their families, but recognizes that a strong overall community is also essential to our way of life.
One unit coordinated with a local grocery store, casino, VFW and other local citizen’s to deliver a Christmas to a veteran family of 10 who had recently been laid off. They even arranged to prepay their electric bill. Another unit arranged for a family to take a Hawaiian vacation just months before the veteran husband and father passed away from a combat related illness.
Members of Unit 132 Oro Valley make breakfast burritos for deploying members of the Peace Vanguard unit, Western Army Aviation Training Site, located in Marana. They are part of the Unit's adopted National Guard battalion.
We want the people affected by our efforts to notice real improvements.
Avondale's Unit 61 gathers, prepares and delivers 240 back packs to local schools
Snowflake Unit 126 has the annual coat and toy drive ready for community members in need
Education
The American Legion Auxiliary believes education is vital to democracy, and that investing time and money to educate our youth is literally an investment in America’s future. Our Education Program involves fostering learning for children in our own communities, with our main focus on the children of military and veterans.
We know veterans’ sacrifices are the reason we live in freedom. Easing the burden of the cost of their children’s education is one way we can express our gratitude to them. To that purpose, the Auxiliary supports a number of scholarship programs. These include the Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship, awarded annually to 15 outstanding students who are the children and grandchildren of veterans; the Non-Traditional Student Scholarship, awarded annually to five students who are members of The American Legion, Auxiliary, or Sons of The American Legion; and the Spirit of Youth Scholarship, awarded annually to one Junior Auxiliary member in each of the Auxiliary’s five national divisions.
Recognizing the importance of health care to our veterans, the Arizona ALA also provides two health care scholarships. They also award a $1,000 scholarship for political science or public programs education. Local units, at their discretion, also provide scholarships to meet the needs of their local communities and veterans.
Americanism
The American Legion Auxiliary supports military families by easing the burden of the cost of their children’s education through various scholarship opportunities and by participating in community service projects in local communities that focus on veterans, military families, or children. The Auxiliary also supports military families by providing learning opportunities and instructional resources for important things every good citizen should know, such as learning about the Constitution and flying the flag on patriotic holidays.
Tucson American Legion Family receives a "hats off" welcome at the Tucson Rodeo Parade-- in recognition of the positive impact on the community!
Green Valley's Unit 66 Color Guard demonstrates folding the flag while explaining the meaning of each fold at a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony
Luke Air Force Base families with parent deployed get VIP treatment at Phoenix's Symphony of Light compliments of
Peoria's Unit 62. Read more in the Peoria Times
79 volunteers from the Oro Valley’s American Legion Family Post 132 supported their annual Family Day for the 1-285th Arizona Army National Guard unit.
Glendale’s Unit 29 hosts a Fashion Show honoring women veterans and raising funds for nurses’ scholarships
American patriotism is a fundamental value of the American Legion Auxiliary. Americanism programs teach respect for our country and our nation’s flag. The Auxiliary creates opportunities that all Americans can do to show our respect and set positive examples of living as grateful, patriotic citizens.
The Auxiliary provides learning opportunities and instructional resources for important things every good citizen should know, such as learning about the Constitution and flying the flag on patriotic holidays. They also fold pocket flags to send to our troops overseas and present flags to local schools and businesses.
One Arizona unit partnered with a local printing company to donate 200 flags with the Pledge of Allegiance printed on them to local schools. Other units go into local schools to teach students about the American flag and how to fold it. Recently members of the Ira H Hayes Unit 84 in Sacaton, Arizona delivered Certificates of Appreciation to local residents properly displaying the flag. Units and Posts conduct open-to-public flag destruction ceremonies where participants are taught about flag etiquette. Many units promote and participate in the Americanism Essay Contest which is conducted in local school systems. We believe promoting a spirit of patriotism by teaching about it develops lifelong respect for what we hold dear – our country and her flag.
Glendale's Unit 29 Color Guard makes public appearances at community events-- demonstrating love of country wherever they go