National
Purpose
Patriotism is a personal commitment for
American Legion Auxiliary members. We place
great importance on community involvement
and responsible citizenship.
The Auxiliary has conceived and implemented
hundreds of programs for veterans, their
families, young people and the community
at large. Many programs have been expanded
and now are commonly accepted institutions
within the community and nation. So deeply
ingrained are such programs that the subtle
guiding hand of the Auxiliary is often not
recognized.
Few people realize that:
The Auxiliary and the Legion are often
centers for community and civic activities
in mid-America, and provide a focal point
for citizens' involvement.
The
Auxiliary raises more than $18 million
every year and reinvests those funds in
VA medical centers and community programs.
Thousands of hours are devoted to crime
prevention programs, instructing children,
the elderly and the general public on
safety, crime prevention and protection
within the community.
Auxiliary volunteers are the backbone
of assistance in the 171 VA Medical Centers.
They not only provide diversion and entertainment
for patients, but assist the hospital
staff in physical and psychological therapy,
clerical and many other duties that would
otherwise cost American taxpayers millions
of dollars.
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The Auxiliary deals with issues such
as drug and alcohol abuse, missing and
abused children, teen suicide and teen
pregnancy. Its services touch the lives
of all Americans directly or indirectly.
More than 20 nationwide programs receive
support and financial aid from the American
Legion Auxiliary. |
National
Mission Statement
The mission of the American Legion
Auxiliary is:
To
support the American Legion programs for
veterans, young people, and community
To
provide for today's needs while being
advocates for a brighter future
To
advance the understanding of patriotism
and responsibility of citizenship
To
promote individual integrity and family
values
To
ensure as volunteers, that Auxiliary members
continue to be the leaders in all that
is good in this nation today, tomorrow
and for generations to come through serving
others first and not self.
Facts:
The American Legion Auxiliary is the largest
patriotic women’s service organization
in the world, with nearly 1 million members.
Affiliated with The American Legion and
chartered by Congress in 1920, the Auxiliary
is a veterans’ service organization
with members in nearly 10,000 American
communities. The organization sponsors
volunteer programs on the national and
local levels, focusing on three major
areas: veterans, young people and the
community.
Auxiliary
members believe in the ideals and principles
of America’s founding fathers and
pledge to foster patriotism, preserve
and defend the Constitution, promote allegiance
to God and Country, and uphold the basic
principles of freedom of religion, freedom
of expression and freedom of choice. The
Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America
that has prevailed through war and peace
and continues to stand firmly behind America
today, as it did when the organization
was first founded.
Initially,
the Auxiliary was organized by concerned
women who took on the day-to-day responsibilities
of life when their male family members
went across sea during World War I. Aware
of the many fatherless families and the
needs of returning veterans, Auxiliary
women vowed to continue their supportive
roles when the veterans of World War I
founded The American Legion in 1919. Auxiliary
members today are wives, mothers, sisters,
daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters
of these courageous veterans. Some members
are veterans themselves.
The
Auxiliary has conceived and implemented
hundreds of programs for veterans, their
families, young people and the community
at large. Many programs have been expanded,
creating commonly accepted institutions
within the community and nation.
Two
of the American Legion Auxiliary’s
showcase programs are Girls State and
Girls Nation. Both are intended for young
women entering their senior year in high
school with an interest in local, state
and federal government. As a result of
participation in these programs, these
young women take responsibility for good
citizenship and develop an understanding
of government.
In
addition to the Girls State and Girls
Nation programs, the Auxiliary takes part
in many community service projects and
activities, while providing a focal point
for citizens’ involvement within
their own communities. The Auxiliary raises
more than $18 million every year and reinvests
these funds in VA medical centers and
community programs. Thousands of hours
are devoted to crime prevention, instructing
children, elderly and the general public
on safety and protection within the community.
The Auxiliary supports programs for drug
and alcohol abuse, missing children, teen
suicide and teen pregnancy while working
with organizations like the Children’s
Miracle Network and Red Cross.
Auxiliary
volunteers are the backbone of assistance
in 171 VA Medical Centers. These volunteers
not only provide diversion and entertainment
for patients, but assist the hospital
staff in physical and psychological therapy.
There are more than 20 programs nationwide
that receive support and financial aid
from the American Legion Auxiliary, and
the Auxiliary is a national co-sponsor
of the National Veterans Creative Arts
Festival.
Along
with The American Legion, the Auxiliary
has helped to lead the movement to return
to the people their right to protect the
American Flag from physical acts of desecration.
The American Legion Family is working
in Washington for passage of a Constitutional
amendment to help protect and preserve
the fabric of the nation.
The
services of the American Legion Auxiliary
directly and indirectly touch the lives
of all Americans. With the philosophy
of "Service, not Self," the
American Legion Auxiliary develops a strong
spirit of volunteerism in its members,
who have joined together in the fellowship
of giving to others.
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Preamble
to the Constitution of the American Legion
Auxiliary
| For
God and Country, we associate ourselves
together for the following purposes:
To
uphold and defend the Constitution
of the United States of America;
To maintain law and order;
To foster and perpetuate a one hundred
percent Americanism;
To preserve the memories and incidents
of our associations during the Great
Wars;
To inculcate a sense of individual
obligation to the community, state,
and nation;
To combat the autocracy of both
the classes and the masses;
To make right the master of might;
To promote peace and goodwill on
earth;
To safeguard and transmit to posterity
the principles of justice, freedom,
and democracy;
To participate in and contribute
to the accomplishment of the aims
and purposes of The American Legion;
To consecrate and sanctify our association
by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. |
Explanation of the Preamble to the Constitution
of the American Legion Auxiliary
When
the American Legion Auxiliary was
formed to aid in the peacetime service
of The American Legion to the United
States, it was natural and right that
the purposes of the Auxiliary be expressed
in the same words which set forth
the purposes of the Legion.
Therefore, the Preamble to the Constitution
of the Auxiliary is nearly identical
to that of the Legion's Preamble to
the Constitution with the addition
of the very significant phrase " to
participate in and contribute to the
accomplishment of the aims and purposes
of The American Legion."
"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 ten 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 war-time
or had a close relative who served.
The pledge to uphold and defend the
democracy of 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 a 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 which 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, 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.
" To preserve the memories
and incidents of our associations
during the Great 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, and the Persian Gulf War.
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 the
inevitable tragedies accompanying
any 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 ideals 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 American 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. 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 all their strength to a continued
struggle to prevent invasion of the
rights of any citizens 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 which
inspired America's great war efforts
over the decades, and the Legion and
Auxiliary stand determined that these
principles shall 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
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 affirms 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 toward 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. |
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The
American
Legion Auxiliary Emblem
Printable
Flyer
The emblem
of the American Legion Auxiliary is the
member's badge of distinction and honor.
It stands for God and Country and the
highest rights of man. It consists
of several parts,
and each part has a meaning.
The rays of the sun that form the background
stand for
the principals of the American Legion
Auxiliary,
for Loyalty, Justice, Freedom, and Democracy;
dispelling the darkness of violence, strife,
and evil.
Unity and Loyalty are represented by
the unbroken circle of blue.
The
field of white exemplifies the hope of
Freedom.
The star of blue is the emblem of service
in war;
it is no less the emblem of service in
time of peace.
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| Information
Governing the Use of the Emblem
The possession of this
emblem in this format does not constitute
permission to reproduce it. Permission
to reproduce the emblems of The American
Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary,
and the Sons of the American Legion is
confined to those activities as stated
below.
"The
American Legion emblem is fully copyrighted
and patented in the name of the National
Organization. The emblem is also
protected by federal legislation which
makes it a criminal offense to use, without
formal approval of the National Organization,
the patented insignia of any veterans'
group chartered by Congress, one of which
is The American Legion."
The
above restrictions apply equally to the
emblems of The American Legion, American
Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of the
American Legion.
The
use of the emblem by an individual Auxiliary
member is limited to the wearing of the
official insignia and to the possession
of authorized jewelry of merchandise bearing
the insignia. Units are confined
to using the emblem or reproduction of
the emblem on stationery, Unit publications,
notices, posters or place cards, or matters
of similar character used in the ordinary
routine and conduct of legitimate Unit
business. Departments are similarly
limited. Any other use of the name
"The American Legion Auxiliary" or the
emblem shall be subject to approval of
the National Secretary.
If
you have further questions, please direct
them to:
calegionaux@calegionaux.org
or
natltreas@legion-aux.org |
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