A longtime member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Rachel Grout’s roots ran deep within the organization. After joining the ALA at 17 years old, Rachel was an active member at Unit 193 in Winchendon, Mass., until she passed away last year at 100 years old. To show her appreciation and lifelong love for the ALA,
Each summer, nearly 16,000 young women participate in an American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program in their home state. In 2019, four of those high school students were given the chance to attend thanks to the generosity of the John and Patricia Bowell Foundation and the nonprofit status of the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation. ALA
ALA Unit 143 President Heather Swartz said, “She was one who would never miss a meeting and always volunteered to help. She was loved by all and is truly missed.” Barbara K. Smith was an active member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 143 in New Cumberland, Pa., left behind a legacy of being very
Thousands of veterans take part in local Veterans Creative Arts Festivals across the country each year. From there, some are invited to showcase their talents at the national level. U.S. Marine Corps veteran Raymond Douglass discovered a talent he didn’t know he had. “I have no formal writing experience or anything like that. I just
The mission of the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation is to positively impact the lives of veterans, military, and their families. To say that The Guardian House, a female veteran transitional housing center in Saratoga, N.Y., positively impacted the life of U.S. Air Force veteran Janet Harrington is a gross understatement. Harrington is proud to have
For the first 16 years of her life, Carrie Davenport did not know the American Legion Auxiliary existed. Since she joined the organization 16 years ago, she has been a dedicated member of the Auxiliary, making great strides to improve the lives of veterans, military, and their families. Davenport was called into the office
Leftover on the walls of the former Trapp Elementary school in Winchester, Ky., is an acrostic poem – TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More. That’s exactly what it took to start the transformation of this school into a transitional home for female veterans. Many American Legion Auxiliary units and American Legion posts have joined forces with
Through her time as a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Past National President Janet Jefford has had a unique opportunity to see and experience the impact the Auxiliary has on the veterans, military, and families they serve, but also on the members themselves. Jefford is no exception. She has experienced professional and personal growth
The ability to express yourself is vital for your mental health. For veterans, this process can be extremely challenging. Just ask Miette Wells.A U.S. Air Force veteran and survivor of military sexual trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury, Wells struggled to both express herself and be understood after returning from her service in Panama and Kuwait.
In an organization where you can join at any age, Amanda Washburn is younger than the average American Legion Auxiliary member. But at just 25 years old, Washburn has just as much passion and drive to serve veterans, military, and their families as any other member. Washburn knows her generation of ALA members has different
