Members of the American Legion Auxiliary were joined by the American Legion and friends for an afternoon celebrating both Oktoberfest and the 100th Anniversary of the American Legion Auxiliary. We all agreed we need to have this much fun more often!
Members of the American Legion Auxiliary were joined by the American Legion and friends for an afternoon celebrating both Oktoberfest and the 100th Anniversary of the American Legion Auxiliary. We all agreed we need to have this much fun more often!
Unit 304 is happy to announce that November 10, 2019 marks the 100th Anniversary of the American Legion Auxiliary. Our milestone celebration comes a few months after The American Legion celebrated its centennial in March.
The American Legion was founded after the end of World War I in Paris, France. In September of that year, the United States Congress chartered The American Legion. Several women’s organizations wanted to become the official affiliate of the Legion. Instead of associating with an existing organization, the Legion decided to create a new organization with the women most closely associated with the men of the Legion. The American Legion Auxiliary was founded at The American Legion’s second convention on Nov. 10, 1919.
Since their establishments a century ago, the goals of both organizations have been to help veterans and their families. Today, The American Legion has more than 2 million members. The ALA boasts more than 600,000 members who spend millions of volunteer hours serving our mission every year.
The American Legion Auxiliary has stood alongside The American Legion as advocates for veterans’ rights, including passage of the GI Bill, enhancing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, and ending homelessness among veterans.
The ALA’s 100th anniversary is a time not only to celebrate the achievements of the last
century, but also to look ahead to our next century. A new generation of veterans, service members, and their families will depend on the American Legion Auxiliary.
It is our hope that our membership will increase as we continue the work that is so important for our Veterans, our Military and their families.
The following article appeared in the Manhasset Press.
Four of the six young women who represented Manhasset Unit 304 at Empire Girls State this year attended the meeting held by Unit 304 on September 17th. Each of them spoke of their experiences during the week spent at Brockport in which they gained an in-depth knowledge of our nation’s two-party system through very hands-on activities. They created a fictional 51st state. were members of counties named for women who are prominent in United States history, ran for office, created bills that were presented to the body of 360 young women, and learned the fate of their bills in the legislature. Each spoke very highly of the program and of the other young women they met from throughout New York State. They stressed that the knowledge about government will aid them as they reach voting age and beyond and the self-knowledge they gained will carry them through their lives.
Left to Right: Pat O’Brien (President, Unit 304), Linda Clarke and Ann Marie Moschitta (Co-Chairpersons for Empire Girls State), EGS Citizens Emily Song and Jenna Curran (St. Mary’s High School), EGS Citizens Caroline Ryan and Sofia Matos (Manhasset High School), and Elizabeth Parrella ( 1st Vice President and Treasurer, Unit 304)