ABOUT

The American Legion Auxiliary

MISSION STATEMENT

In the spirit of service, not self, the mission of The American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military and their families, both at home and abroad, For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.

VISION STATEMENT

The vision of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion while becoming the premier service organization and foundation of every community providing support for our veterans, our military, and their families by shaping a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace, and security.

  • To support and advocate for veterans, active military, and their families
  • To support the initiatives and programs of The American Legion
  • To foster patriotism and responsible citizenship
  • To award scholarships and promote quality education and literacy
  • To provide educational and leadership opportunities that uphold the ideals of freedom and democracy and encourage good citizenship and patriotism in government
  • To increase our capacity to deliver our Mission by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities within our communities
  • To empower our membership to achieve personal fulfillment through "service and self"
  • Commitment to the four founding principles: Justice, Freedom, Democracy, and Loyalty
  • Service to God, our country, its veterans and their families
  • Tradition of patriotism and citizenship
  • Personal integrity and family values
  • Respect for the uniqueness of individual members
  • Truthful open communication in dealing with the public and our members
  • Adherence to the adopted policies and rules

THE HISTORY OF OUR ORGANIZATION

For nearly every man in World War I who endured the dangers and hardships of camp, shore and battlefront there was a woman serving at home to help make possible America' victory - his wife, mother, sister, daughter or granddaughter.

The war was born, and the men and women of the armed forces banded together in The American Legion to carry forward their services to the country in peacetime. It was only natural that the women of their families should desire to continue to serve them. The result was the American Legion Auxiliary, the largest and most influential woman's organization of its kind in the world today.

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The establishment of an Auxiliary to The American Legion was provided for by the first National Convention of The American Legion in 1919. By the time of the 1920 National Convention, 1,342 local Units of the Auxiliary had been formed; intensive organizational efforts were authorized. The first National Convention of the Auxiliary was held in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1921. At the time the name "American Legion Auxiliary" was adopted and the first national officers elected.

The Auxiliary grew from a first year enrollment of 121,000 to approximately 500,000 at the beginning of World War II. After the women of World War II families became eligible, the enrollment rose rapidly to a record of 1,001,545 in 1955, and has since remained well above the 900,000 mark. The number of local Units of the Auxiliary, i.e. local, state and national, parallels that of The American Legion. Auxiliary National Headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Auxiliary-Emblem 1

PREAMBLE

"For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America..."
The first of the 10 principles of The American Legion and Auxiliary is a sacred pledge of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. It is most appropriate that the first ideas presented in the Preamble be dedicated to the continued defense of our nation by those very persons who have either served in wartime or had a close relative who served. The pledge to uphold and defend America is the first obligation of every Legionnaire and Auxiliary member.

"To maintain law and order..."
Law and order must be maintained if freedom is to be maintained. Liberty is not license. Good government means that all citizens are secure in their lives and property. To this, the Legion and Auxiliary are pledged by the second principle stated in the Preamble.

"To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism..."
The term "Americanism" covers all of the things that have made the American nation great and the American people free. It implies qualities of character as well as principles of government. Under this Constitution's principles, the Legion and Auxiliary have worked, and are continuing to work, to defeat the attempts of subversive organizations to undermine our system. We attempt to build loyalty to and confidence in American ideals, and to develop an American citizenship capable of making America's free form of government a constantly greater success.

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"To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations during all Wars..."
Every member of the Auxiliary has close personal associations with the sacrifice of war, be it World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada/Lebanon, Panama, Persian Gulf, Operation Desert Shield/Storm or the Gulf War/War on Terrorism. The associations and incidents of these struggles are to be remembered not only for their heroes, their victories for freedom, but also to remind us of the awful implications and inevitable tragedies accompanying war.

"To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation..."
The individual is the basis of the American nation. Unlike other ideas of government, the American ideal places the individual first. The nation belongs to the individual, not the individual to the nation. The government exists for the purpose of serving the individual, not the individual for the purpose of serving the nation. If this ideal is to survive, there must be a voluntary sense of obligation of the individual to the nation and its component parts, the community and state. The American citizen serves his community, state and nation, not as a driven slave, but as a free man guided by his own sense of duty. To inculcate this feeling among all Americans is one of the great purposes of the Legion and Auxiliary.

"To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses..."
If America is to remain "the land of the free," the government must always be a government of all the people and for all the people. No classes are recognized in America. No masses of downtrodden people exist. Neither must be permitted to develop, but America must be kept the country of opportunity for all, where every citizen's first allegiance is to the nation, not to some social or economic class or mass. Dominance must not be gained by any such grouping of Americans. This is another basic pledge of the Legion and Auxiliary.

"To make right the master of might..."
The American form of government guarantees equal rights to all citizens. The American Legion Auxiliary, born from a struggle against ruthless might, pledges their strength to a continued struggle to prevent invasion of the rights of any citizen by any force, no matter of what character.

"To promote peace and goodwill on earth..."
The men and women of the Legion and the women of the Auxiliary know well the ghastly futility of war. We know that war brings only misery to any nation, which engages in it, to the victor as well as the vanquished. With the lessons of war constantly in mind, we pledge ourselves to promote peace and goodwill among nations. We have worked steadily in the cause in the face of forces, which have sought to sow enmity and war throughout the world.

"To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy..."
These were the principles that inspired America's great war efforts over the decades, and the Legion and Auxiliary stand determined that these principles should not be lost to America in time of peace. Following this pledge, the Legion and Auxiliary work to safeguard justice, freedom and democracy against the dangers of indifferent citizenship and undermining by their enemies. It strives to give understanding of and devotion to these principles to the younger generations of Americans so that they will endure for the future of the country.

"To participate in and contribute to the accomplishment of the aims and purposes of The American Legion..."
Thus, the Auxiliary pledges its full strength to the support of The American Legion, and affirm its character as an auxiliary to the Legion. It has always been faithful to this pledge, never developing programs or policies of its own, but directing all of its activities towards the "accomplishment of the aims and purposes of The American Legion."

"To consecrate and sanctify our association by our devotion to mutual helpfulness."
In this final phrase of the Preamble is set forth the purpose which has guided the Legion and Auxiliary in all of their vast rehabilitation and youth work; in everything they have done to lighten the burden for those suffering from the results of wars; and to bring full justice to those paying the human price for America's victory. In this work of mercy and relief, the Auxiliary has made great contributions toward the achievement of the Legion's purpose.

WHY JOIN?

If you value patriotism, responsible citizenship, volunteerism and advocacy for veterans and their families, you will feel right at home in the American Legion Auxiliary. You can teach school children about our nation's flag, assemble care packages to send to our troops, or volunteer at your local VA Medical Center. As a member of a local unit, you'll have a ready made support system and many hands-on opportunities to serve in ways that truly make a difference.

Patriotism and veterans advocacy are so important to us that for more than nine decades we've been serving, educating, and giving to America's finest - our servicemen and women. We're individuals who answer the call of Service, Not Self.

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We are more than 850,000 grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of veterans who served our great country during times of war. Some of us are veterans ourselves. We are the American Legion Auxiliary, and we are passionate about making a difference. You will find us in more then 9,500 communities in the USA - 434 units in Illinois alone, and 11 foreign countries.

Founded in 1919 during the first National Convention of The American Legion, we have grown to be the largest women's patriotic organization in the world. We would love for you to be a part of our outreach.

BECOME A MEMBER

The payment of your dues secures your membership for a given year. You can pay your dues at any point during the year, but many choose to pay ahead.
Apply today by filling clicking the button below.

Auxiliary Member

Membership is offered to anyone over the age of 18 who is an immediate family member of an American Legion member or a deceased veteran.

Junior Member

Junior membership is offered to anyone under the age of 18 who is an immediate family member of an American Legion Member or a deceased veteran.

Paid Up for Life

These members demonstrate their "I'm All In" commitment to the Auxiliary by paying their dues for life. They never have to worry about paying their annual dues, losing their continuous years of service, or facing a dues increase. This is a group of distinction, and you can apply once your dues are paid in the current year.

CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY

Membership in The American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to:

(1) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion; and

(2) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who served in either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918 and any time after December 7, 1941 who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry therein served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge;

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(3) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and any time after December 7, 1941 who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge; and

(4) to those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in The American Legion.*

* A woman who is eligible for American Legion membership is eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary regardless of whether or not she is a member of The American Legion. However, eligibility of her female relatives (sister, mother, direct descendants) and/or spouse depends upon her membership in The American Legion.
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Not sure if you are eligible? We're here to help!

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

A female who is eligible for American Legion membership is eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary regardless of whether or not she is a member of The American Legion. However, eligibility of her female relatives (sister, mother, direct decedents) or spouse depends upon her membership in The American Legion.

If a request for membership is based on a family member who is living, that person must be a member of The American Legion.

Individuals eligible for membership through a veteran who, now deceased, was not a member of The American Legion must submit the veteran's Proof of wartime service documentation with their application to verify eligibility.

Proof of wartime service documentation : (https://www.alaforveterans.org/
Joining/
)

If the person who provides your eligibility is deceased, acceptable eligibility documents include:
a. DD-214 Discharge Papers (not issued/called this until after the Korean War)
b. Official Military Orders (or a military ID)
c. Official Military Service Citations/Awards
d. Letters related to the veteran’s military service. Must be on official government letterhead
e. Certificate from the VA records center (National Archives & Records) in St. Louis**
f. Data from the back of older discharges

**Military records can be requested FREE online from the National Archives and Records Administration (in St. Louis) by visiting their website (see below for detailed instructions) or calling 866-272-6272. Note: There was a fire at this building in 1973 and some records were destroyed, but they will inform you if this occurred with your veteran’s records.

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**The preferred method of submitting a request to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is via the Internet. In some cases using a browser other than Internet Explorer may create problems with data entry. The NPRC provides copies of documents from military personnel records to authorized requesters. The web-based application will provide better service on these requests by eliminating the mailroom processing time. You may access this application at: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/. Click "Launch E Vet Records", click "Continue" and follow the prompts.

At the end, there is a form to print and then fax or mail to the fax number or address listed.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The following resources may be of additional assistance in locating these kinds of records.

Please be advised that many certificates of discharge prior to 1979 may not appear to be “official” documents and may have been typed onto a sheet of paper. If you are unsure, please ask your local American Legion Post Adjutant or a service officer. Locate your American Legion Department Service Officer at www.legion.org/serviceofficer or download The American Legion Claims Coach Mobile App through Google Play or ITunes App Store.

The County Clerk and Recorders Office where the veteran resided (veterans used to have to register with their county before or after they returned home from service)

A funeral home may have kept a copy if military honors were provided. If buried in a National Cemetery, the cemetery will likely have a copy. You can locate the national cemetery where they are buried here: https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/

Monument companies if VA headstone or marker was ordered.

If the veteran had utilized a VA Home Loan there may be a copy of the DD214 with the title documentation.

Veterans who have signed up for EBENEFITS through the Veterans Administration may be able to obtain a printable copy. www.ebenefits.va.gov

The State Director of Veterans Affairs may have received a copy of the veterans DD214 at the time of discharge from military service. This will be specific to the state in which the veterans home of record.

Obituaries are not sufficient proof of service as family members write the obituary themselves so dates of service and military-related information in them may not be accurate. Ancestry.com and other similar reports aren’t as well. Some Posts may accept these as part of multiple documents that might together all serve to show “due diligence” was taken in providing proof of eligibility.

Pictures of headstones, even if in a national cemetery, and dog tags are generally not accepted unless other documents from above are included with it.

CONTACT US

Want to get in touch with a Department Leader? Use the contact information below or fill out this quick and easy form.

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Office will be closed All Federal Holidays

Contact information for the Department of Illinois Officers, District and Division Presidents, and Department Chairman can be found by visiting the links above.

Physical Address:

2720 E. Lincoln Avenue Bloomington, IL 61704
Phone: 309-663-9366
Fax: 309-663-5827

Mailing Address:

P. O. Box. 1426
Bloomington, IL 61702
Phone: 309-663-9366
Fax: 309-663-5827

Extensions:

Ext 50 is now ext. 1018
Ext. 51 is now ext. 1021
Ext. 52 is now ext. 1019
Ext. 53 is now ext. 1020

Contact Us
First
Last

Interim Managing Director

Sharon Conatser

Phone: 309-663-9366 ext. 50

Department Bookkeeper

Brenda Rettke

Phone: 309-663-9366 ext. 53

Member Relations Coordinator

Phone: 309-663-9366 ext. 51

 

Administrative Assistant

Ashley Rolf

Phone: 309-663-9366 ext.

 

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