www.ALAforVeterans.org May 2020 $3.75 Wear a Poppy to Honor Those Who Have Worn Our Nation’s Uniform A Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families We are the American Legion Auxiliary. We are called to serve. We respect our country and the service of those who defend our freedoms. We are loyal to our United States Constitution and to those who protect it. We are humbled by the courage of our veterans and their families. We are alone, yet we stand together. We are daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. We are family. We are of every color. We are of every faith. We are of every age. We are anyone and everyone. We are common and extraordinary. We are citizens. We live in small towns. We live in suburbs. We live in cities. We work in fi elds, in factories, warehouses, offi ces, at home. We are a community. We help one another. We love our fl ag and all that it stands for. We are many. We are one. We are the American Legion Auxiliary. A Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families. We commit ourselves to the ideal: Service Not Self. contents FEATURES 30 ALA SALUTES SPOUSES OF U.S. SERVICEMEMBERS We know what it’s like to be apart from one another during critical times and everyday moments. Military spouses’ numerous sacrifices don’t go unnoticed. 36 WORKING TOGETHER AS THE AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY IN WASHINGTON Members converge on nation’s capital to show support for the people we all serve. 46 THE POWER OF A FLOWER Kindness flows from the hands of the American Legion Auxiliary’s poppy makers. IN EVERY ISSUE 4 NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 6 BEHIND THE SCENES 7 FROM OUR READERS 8 JUNIOR MEMBERS 10 I AM THE ALA 13 IT’S ALL GOOD 38 IMPACT ALA! 50 BUILDING ALA BRAND LOYALTY 52 ALL THINGS ALA GIRLS STATE 53 ALA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 54 A WISE PERSON SAID 55 LEGION FAMILY NEWS 56 MISSION MATTERS 57 SOCIAL MEDIA 58 THE LAST WORD ON THE COVER: Poppies, to American Legion Auxiliary members, are worn just as proudly as ALA emblem pins. The symbolism behind these bright-red flowers reminds us to keep alive the memories of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice (photo: Aaron Meyer/ALANHQ). ABOVE: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Sam Last visits his newborn daughter, Charlie. Returning home from deployment, Last was still in uniform because he went directly from the airport to see Charlie at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Kansas hospital where she was born (photo: Angelica Last). www.ALAforVeterans.org May 2020 | Auxiliary magazine 3 FROM THE NATIONAL President I looked into the eyes of U.S. Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor, 98-year-old Sterling R. Cale, and his courage and patriotism came shining through. He answered the call of duty in the wake of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese military’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by helping with rescue and recovery efforts. True to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s well-known proclamation, Dec. 7, 1941, is a date that will forever live in infamy. But what also lives on are the true stories of valor demonstrated by U.S. servicemembers stationed at Pearl Harbor that day. Mr. Cale’s story is one of them. He worked, along with a detail of 10 men, to remove bodies from the burning USS Arizona, according to the National Park Service’s website section about the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Mr. Cale and his work team removed about 107 identifiable bodies and a number of unknowns, the site COURAGE UP CLOSE also stated. : Visiting with veteran Sterling R. Cale, a Pearl Harbor “In two hours’ time, I think I only survivor, during a signing event for his book, A True American: The Story of a Pearl Harbor Survivor, World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Veteran, which Mr. Cale picked up 46 people,” Mr. Cale said narrated to his son, Sterling V. Cale. in a video interview produced by The American Legion in December 2019 Auxiliary and Legion Family and counting. As the Auxiliary (see the interview at Legion.org). members, already know: U.S. continues Celebrating a Century You sense that he wished he could’ve veterans and servicemembers are of Service during the remainder of done more. We all know what he our heroes. It doesn’t matter how this administrative year, let’s stay did was incredible and heroic. We’re many, if any, medals they have. It focused on being a community thankful for everything he did at doesn’t matter whether they served of volunteers serving veterans, Pearl Harbor and throughout his stateside or abroad, frontlines or military, and their families. entire military career! supply lines — or anywhere in Our Legion Family pays It is believed that Mr. Cale is the between or beyond that. Let’s not special tribute to America’s fallen last living Pearl Harbor survivor forget about the military families servicemembers on Memorial Day. residing in Hawaii. He lives a few who support their loved ones And National Poppy Day® is another miles from where the infamous while they serve in America’s opportunity to honor and remember attacks occurred nearly 80 years ago. armed forces. Those families make America’s fallen servicemembers Mr. Cale is a life member of Legion sacrifices for our nation as well. while also supporting our veterans, Post 17 in Honolulu. Several of his Mr. Cale has the sincere military, and their families. Visit eligible relatives are ALA members. gratitude — from me, the ALA, www.ALAforVeterans.org/poppy to How did my eyes end up meeting and the entire Legion Family — learn how you can be part of it. We his? I met Mr. Cale during my official for his heroism, military service, will keep them in our hearts and visit to Hawaii. I spent time with sacrifices, and patriotism. He is a thoughts year-round. him, listening to his memories of the great reminder of the people the Pearl Harbor attack, and thanking American Legion Auxiliary and him for his service to our nation. the entire Legion Family have been Nicole Clapp This interaction reinforced honoring, helping, advocating for, National President what I, and other American Legion and supporting for the last 100 years 4 Auxiliary magazine | May 2020 www.ALAforVeterans.org Special Offer FOR VETERANS! NORTH AMERICA’S # 1 Selling Walk-In Tub Featuring our New Exclusive Shower Package Now you can fi nally have all of the soothing benefi ts of a relaxing warm bath, or enjoy a convenient refreshing shower while seated or standing. Introducing Safe Step Walk-In Tub’s exclusive NEW Shower Package! 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CREDIT CSLB 983603 F13000002885 13HV08744300 BEHIND THE scenes NOTES FROM NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS The crafty sharpened their A Community of Volunteers scissors and skills. To assist those Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families on the intense frontlines, members May 2020 made face masks for healthcare Published by workers. And, to get a jump ahead, American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters members kept busy by making Executive Director winter hats, scarves, and blankets Kelly Circle for hospitalized veterans for next Communications and Marketing Director year. Junior members across the Michael Butt Communications Manager nation worked on homemade cards Aaron Meyer containing notes of “happy” for Managing Editor REMOTE MEMBER SERVICE: veterans. Stephanie L. Holloway Elizabeth Webmaster Chiavarini, senior database coordinator, Don’t forget the food. In Travis Perkins works from home during the COVID-19 Delaware, one unit made lots Communications Senior Writer mandated closures. of bagged lunches for veterans Landa Bagley Communications Specialist Spring is normally a time of and seniors in their area. A local Sara Fowler universal positivity with its fresh, restaurant allowed them to use their Communications Specialist warm air bringing flowers and a front patio for drive-by pickups. Jennifer Donovan renewed sense of purpose. But this Extra time was devoted to Communications Coordinator Alexa Freeman year, it was different. learning. Members took advantage Contributing Writers The COVID-19 (coronavirus) of the moments in isolation by Brad Oppenheim, Sydney DeLong, Sue Ritchie pandemic became a crisis that fell browsing www.ALAforVeterans.org 2019-2020 National Officers upon the world in the early part of and enrolling in the many enriching National President Nicole Clapp National Vice President Kathy Daudistel 2020. It hit us hard and showed us ALA Academy courses. National Secretary Linda Boone that being joyful, thankful, or selfless Laptops won over desktops. National Treasurer Marybeth Revoir during extreme times was perhaps Working from home became the ADVERTISING unmerited. norm. Department and national James G.