About the American Legion Auxiliary
About the American Legion Auxiliary
The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) is the official women's affiliate of The American Legion, composed of mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, and female veterans who support the Legion’s mission through volunteer service, advocacy, and community programs.
National History
The ALA was founded in 1919 during the first National Convention of The American Legion in Minneapolis. As The American Legion formed to support WWI veterans, women closely connected to those veterans sought to continue their wartime service in peacetime. A committee recommended creating an official auxiliary for the women most directly associated with Legion members.
By 1921, the first National Convention of the Auxiliary was held in Kansas City, Missouri, where the name “American Legion Auxiliary” was officially adopted. The organization grew rapidly — from about 11,000 members in its early years to over 200,000 by 1929 — and eventually to more than one million members across all 50 states and abroad.
For over a century, the ALA has focused on "Service Not Self", advancing key programs in veterans’ rehabilitation, children and youth, community service, education (including Girls State/Girls Nation), patriotism, and legislative advocacy. The ALA played roles in initiatives such as drafting the GI Bill, supporting VA hospitals, and ongoing veteran advocacy.
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP)
ALA units in the UP have been active since the early decades of the organization, working alongside Legion posts in the region’s rural and forested communities. Units such as American Legion Auxiliary Unit 44 (Marquette) and those affiliated with Greenwood Post 114 (Ishpeming) exemplify local service.
UP Auxiliary members support veterans through programs like Veteran Basket initiatives, Honor Flight escorts, holiday remembrance events, craft shows and fundraisers, patriotic education, and community assistance for military families. The Upper Peninsula District maintains dedicated leadership to coordinate activities across the vast region.
Today, the American Legion Auxiliary continues its tradition of quiet, dedicated service — supporting veterans, mentoring youth, and strengthening communities in the spirit of God and country.