AUXILIARY NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2018

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The American Legion Family recognizes the importance of honoring the  fallen and supporting the living who have worn our nation’s uniform.  That is why The American Legion Family has called upon Congress to  designate the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day . The inaugural day this year is Friday, May 26, 2017.   

After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe and quickly became a symbol of the sacrifices made by Americans and allied servicemembers around the world. Soldiers returning from WWI brought home the flowers in memory of the barren landscape transformed by the sudden growth of wild red poppies among the newly dug graves — unforgettably described in a memorial poem by Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae:

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

National Poppy Day  broadens a tradition that dates back to the American Legion Auxiliary’s first National Convention in the early 1920s when the red poppy was adopted as The American Legion Family’s memorial flower. Today, it remains an iconic symbol of honor for the sacrifice of our veterans. ALA members distribute millions of poppies annually across the country in exchange for donations that go directly to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans in our communities.

Boeing Co. is a sponsor of National Poppy Day. American Legion Auxiliary National President Mary E. Davis and American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt encourage all Americans to wear or display poppies on National Poppy Day in memory of the fallen and to honor those who have fought for freedom.    

American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) members and volunteers step up to advance our mission of service to veterans, military and their families! Our annual volunteer service is worth nearly $2 billion!   

• Volunteered more than 10 million hours in mission      service, with 5.8 million hours dedicated to serving veterans at home, in      hospitals, and in shelters; and helped 865,200 active-duty military      families. 
• Raised and donated nearly $45 million for mission      service, with $5.5 million raised from Poppy Program donations, $2 million      awarded in scholarships, and $45 million spent aiding military families. 

Over the years, The American Legion Family has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans, helped military families through transition and produced many important programs for our country’s youth.    

 The National Executive Committee adopted the present Mission and Vision statements of the American Legion Auxiliary in March 2008.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to serve veterans, their families and their communities.

Vision Statement

The American Legion Auxiliary enriches the quality of life of those we serve and our members.

      American Legion Auxiliary Tar Heel Girls State  is a week long workshop in the legislative process sponsored by the  North Carolina American Legion Auxiliary. North Carolina's program is  the longest continuously-running Girls State program in the United  States. For a week in June, approximately 250 of North Carolina's most  promising rising high school senior girls from every part of the state  come together to learn about and  participate in various parts of  government. In the following pages, you will see different parts of the  program and be linked to other web sites to learn more about North  Carolina's and the United States's government.  

                                79th session of Tar Heel Girls State will be the held on the campus of Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. The session will start on Sunday, June 10, 2018 and end on Saturday, June 16, 2018.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06ppUINV6W4