| eNews & eBulletin | Connecting with you monthly |
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| Display Old Glory on Flag Day, June 14 |
| Join The American Legion Family in proudly flying our red, white, and blue on Flag Day – Thursday, June 14. ALA units and Legion posts across the country will also conduct proper flag-collection and retirement ceremonies, host flag education sessions, and encourage all Americans to fly the U.S. flag this day and throughout the year. Have questions about American flag etiquette? Read more about how to use, display, and care for Old Glory here. |
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| National Poppy Day® received national tv and news coverage |
American Legion Auxiliary members, units, and departments were out in full force for National Poppy Day in May – and the media took notice! Two ALA members were featured on FOX News at the local and national level – did you see either of these segments on air?
On Fox 25 Boston, ALA Department of Massachusetts Secretary Ann Fournier was profiled as “The Poppy Lady” on National Poppy Day. Fournier assembles 100,000 poppies a year – over 3 million in the 30 years since she began making them – on her daily commute to and from Boston in support of our nation’s veterans, military, and their families. “I don’t have a lot of money, but I have time. That two hours that I’m on the train is time I can give to our veterans,” said Fournier. Watch here.
During a segment on FOX & Friends on Memorial Day, The American Legion’s Veteranpreneur Contest winner was announced. Joining the winner, Nomadés Collection – a company of military spouses (and one military sister-in-law) – was the ALA’s Washington, D.C. Office Director Carol Harlow. Watch here. The winning product by Nomadés Collection will be available for purchase later this summer at American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales. Buy and browse available National Poppy Day merchandise on the Emblem Sales Poppy Shop here. |
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| Your ALA department could win NVCAF artwork |
| The chance for ALA departments to own one-of-a-kind art is here again! An award-winning National Veterans Creative Arts Festival artist has graciously donated her artwork for the ALA Foundation’s special fundraising challenge. The department donating the most money to the ALA Foundation’s Veterans Creative Arts Festival fund, per capita by membership category through July 31, 2018, will be entered for a chance to win! The winning department will have the opportunity to display the work of art at their department headquarters, auction it off as a fundraiser, or use it in other creative ways to highlight the ALA’s mission. ALA National President Diane Duscheck will present the artwork to the winning department at the 2018 ALA National Convention in Minneapolis. Learn more here. |
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| ALA awarded Hidden Heroes Fund grant |
| The American Legion Auxiliary national organization was recently awarded a grant from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Fund in support of our efforts to impact the lives of military and veteran caregivers through the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF). The grant will provide educational “caregiver hours” at NVCAF, co-hosted by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the ALA, focused on the shared experience of military caregivers and self-care. Additionally, the funds will help the ALA develop a model for caregiver support so that veterans and their caregivers alike can feel more assured and comfortable participating in external programs designed to bolster veterans’ healing and wellbeing. Learn more about the fund and our project here. |
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| VA Mission Act signed into law |
| President Trump recently signed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mission Act (better known as veteran’s choice program) into law on June 6. Late last month, Congress voted to expand private care for veterans as an alternative to the VA health system. The Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill by a 92-5 vote. The bill allows veterans to see private doctors – with approval by the VA – when they do not receive the treatment they expected, endure lengthy wait times, or their VA medical center does not offer the services they need. Sen. Johnny Isakson, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said the bill will offer veterans “more choice and fewer barriers to care.” The American Legion Family supported the bill. |
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| Run for the Fallen: How ALA members can help |
| The Honor and Remember organization is conducting a once-in-a-decade Run for the Fallen, a nationwide relay race of veterans, running one mile for every servicemember who has fallen since Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom began. Run for the Fallen events are some of the most comprehensive tributes ever for fallen military servicemembers. The run spans the United States from West to East with stops nationwide. Volunteers are needed with the remembrance ceremonies at each mile stop and evening ceremonies. Cities along the Run for the Fallen route needing an ALA presence: Indianapolis, Ind., and Virginia Beach, Va. The intent is to create a 6,000-mile tribute trail that culminates at Arlington National Cemetery. Learn more about how ALA members can participate here. |
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| DID YOU KNOW? |
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ALA entities can use the ALA 100th anniversary logo for apparel, etc. Looking forward to celebrating the ALA’s centennial in 2019? ALA units, districts, and departments can brand apparel, products, and other items with the ALA’s 100th anniversary logo in preparation for our landmark year. Emblem usage approval is required and is the same as filing to use the ALA emblem and ALA Girls State logos – simply fill out the ALA Emblem Use Approval Request form here. Check out the centennial items currently available from Emblem Sales here.
Are YOU helping the ALA Foundation by using AmazonSmile? Through Amazon’s charitable program, AmazonSmile, you can support the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation while knocking out some of your everyday shopping! And it doesn’t take much effort. Simply sign in to Amazon through this special link, select the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation, and just like that, Amazon donates 0.5 percent of every purchase you make to the ALA Foundation. There’s no added fee, no catch, and best of all, you’re supporting the ALA Foundation and the lives of our veterans, military, and their families by funding programs of the American Legion Auxiliary today and for future generations. Bookmark this special AmazonSmile link for your future purchases!
Share your posts and photos with us on social media @ALAforVeterans. ALA social media hashtags:
#LegionFamily Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos of your Legion Family volunteering in branded attire
#AmericanLegionAuxiliary Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos of anything and everything related to the ALA
#ALAJuniors Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos of your ALA Juniors working the mission
#ALARockStars Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos of ALA members working the mission
#ALA100 Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos celebrating the ALA’s 100th anniversary
#ALAServiceSelfie Share posts, tweets, and photos of yourself volunteering at a community, non-ALA event while wearing ALA attire (shirts, pins, hats, etc.) |
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| June 2018 |
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