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The American Legion Auxiliary — Celebrating 100 Years

The national organization of the American Legion was formed in 1919 after the end of World War I, and was chartered in September of that year. Several existing women’s organizations wanted to become the official affiliate of the Legion, so during the American Legion’s first convention on Nov. 10, 1919, members and officials “birthed” the American Legion Auxiliary. At the Legion’s second convention in September 1920, the Legion sanctioned the Auxiliary.

Locally, Osmond’s American Legion Post 326 was organized in 1922. According to the Osmond centennial book, in April of 1923, the “Legion boys” thought they couldn’t do without the ladies and decided they should have an auxiliary. The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 326 was organized that year.

Leoma Fuelberth of the local Legion Auxiliary shared the following information published in a pamphlet entitled “Celebrating 100 Years of Making a Difference.”

The 1960s

Since then, we have provided more than $6 million in emergency assistance to more than 6,500 Auxiliary members.

The 1970s

The Vietnam War came to an end, but the nation continued to face divisions. The resignation of President Nixon following the Watergate scandal undermined faith and trust in the government for many people. A serious economic disruption swept the land as gas lines lengthened and rising unemployment left many struggling to get by.

The political and economic liberties of women were front and center in America when the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by Congress by failed to be ratified by the states.

In 1970, membership eligibility was legislatively authorized to allow granddaughters to be eligible for membership in the American Legion Auxiliary. This change would help membership grow.

With an eye toward preserving our rich history, we opened the Cavalcade of Memories in 1972. This museum is dedicated to preserving, displaying and sharing our history, traditions and milestones through photographs, documents, personal mementos and other artifacts.

The 1980s

After facing tribulating times the decade before, the Eighties brought a newfound wave of energy and abundance of patriotism. The victory of the U.S. hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics and bringing home the gold medal for the first time in 20 years seemed like an omen of better times ahead. The economy rebounded and American military power was rebuilt following the long drawdown after Vietnam.

It also proved to be a time of advancement for women as the nation saw its first female Supreme Court Justice and the first U.S. female in space.

The American Legion Auxiliary stepped up its presence in Washington, D.C., working hand in hand with the American Legion to encourage Congress to improve veterans’ rights and health care. Government programs were in need of updating as new technology changed the landscape of how people lived, worked and learned.

The 1990s

The 1990s were all about innovation and expansion. The World Wide Web and pocket-sized mobile phones paved the information superhighway. Living standards and democratic governance vastly improved in East Asia, Eastern Europe and South Africa. On the contrary, new conflicts emerged in Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East.

On the home front, America’s sense of security was shattered as violence rocked the decade with bombings at the World Trade Center in New York, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City and the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, stirring our worst fears of domestic and international terrorism.

Auxiliary members were challenged to strengthen the values upon which our nation was founded and emphasized the importance of youth-related programs and expanding existing Auxiliary Junior programs.

As the American Legion Auxiliary celebrated its 75th anniversary of serving our veterans, military and their families, membership eligibility expanded to include veterans of the conflicts in Grenada, Lebanon, Panama and the Persian Gulf.

The 2000s

None of us will ever forget September 11, 2001, and the deadliest attacks against the USA. The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary leaders were meeting with Congressional representatives in the U.S. Capitol on the day that terrorism shattered our feeling of security.

Those events also brought out the best in Americans, inspiring a drive for patriotism and service.

The long war against terrorism began and American troops were sent to both Afghanistan and Iraq. As the fighting dragged on, the pressure on our military and their families increased. Their need for both encouragement and support as well as practical aid became much greater, and once again the American Legion Auxiliary stepped forward to help meet the need.

We established a scholarship endowment for children of military personnel and became involved with the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. In 2007, we formed the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation to help ensure our financial future and support our mission of service.

The 2010s

We launched into this decade not resting on the past but looking to the future. The American Legion Auxiliary commissioned a National Organizational Effectiveness Assessment to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and launched a five-year Centennial Strategic Plan, all designed to build membership and ensure our ability to serve future generations. The American Legion Auxiliary Foundation began to award departments and units with much-needed grants for missionrelated projects. Thanks to the generous funding from our members and supporters, we have been able to provide nearly $750,000 in grants to support our veterans, military and their families.

The war in Afghanistan has become the longest in our nation’s history. Multiple deployments and extended service tours have become routine. Coming home may be the end of one journey for many veterans, but it is also the beginning of a new journey to transition to a new normal. Helping them get there is at the core of the purpose and service of the American Legion Auxiliary.

The Future

As proud as we are of all that has been accomplished in the past 100 years, and as grateful as we are to all those who have gone before us, we recognize that our work is not finished. Times change, but the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is more relevant than ever. We continue to evolve and improve because what we do matters.

“Service, Not Self” is not just our slogan, it is our story. It is what we have been doing since 1919, and it is what we will be doing far into the future. It is what we owe to those who have sacrificed and given so much for us. It is what we must do to ensure that our nation remains strong and free.

We can’t wait to see what the next 100 years brings as we continue to help and encourage our military, veterans and their families. Together, we are working to answer the earnest call of our first national president, Edith Hobart — that we carry on our important mission for those we serve.

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