Welcome to the Department of Utah American Legion Auxiliary. Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. With a membership of nearly 800,000, local American Legion Auxiliary units have a strong presence in more than 9,000 communities nationwide. The American Legion Auxiliary’s mission is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad.
The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Utah was chartered by the American Legion Auxiliary National Office on September 29, 1922. The Department of Utah comprises 56 Units around the State of Utah. A Department Convention is held in June, where the members elect the Department Leadership for the upcoming year. The 2021 Convention was held in June 2021, where Silvana Watanabe was elected Department President for the 2021-2022 year.
Our mission is to serve active-duty military veterans and their families. Our many programs also help children and youth communities and promote Americanism. One of our premier programs is American Legion Auxiliary Utah Girls State.
Silvana Watanabe, Department President June 2021 – June 2022, Looking forward to an exciting year serving our veterans, active-duty military, and their families.
We are the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Some of us are veterans ourselves.
Membership in The American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to the following:
(1) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion; and
(2) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who served in either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918 and any time after December 7, 1941 who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry therein served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge;
(3) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and any time after December 7, 1941 who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge; and
(4) to those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in The American Legion.*
* A woman who is eligible for American Legion membership is eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary regardless of whether or not she is a member of The American Legion. However, eligibility of her female relatives (sister, mother, direct descendants) and/or spouse depends upon her membership in The American Legion.
You can reach us at 801-539-1015 and by fax at 801-521-9191. Our office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. We are located at the Utah State Capitol. Our e-mail address is alautah@yahoo.com.
JOIN THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY. You can join online at https://alaforveterans.org
Here is a form you can fill out and mail to
American Legion Auxiliary
PO Box 148000
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-8000
Membership cost is $28.00 for members over 18 years of age and $6.00 for Junior members from birth to 17.
We are the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Some of us are veterans ourselves.
Patriotism and veterans advocacy are so important to the American Legion Auxiliary that for a century, we’ve been serving, educating, and giving to America’s finest — our military.
We answer the call of Service Not Self. We are the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Some of us are veterans ourselves.
We are the American Legion Auxiliary. And we make a difference. You’ll find us in more than 8,000 local communities in the USA and in foreign countries. Founded in 1919 during the first National Convention of The American Legion, the ALA has grown to be one of the largest veterans support organizations. And we’d love for you to be part of our mission outreach.
We know that military service is a sacrifice for the whole family, so ALA members quietly look for ways to ease the burden — whatever it takes to get that family back on their feet physically, mentally, socially, and vocationally. If we don’t have the resources, we connect military families with our partners who do.
In honoring our veterans, one of our core values is to demonstrate and pass on respect for our country and our nation’s flag. We promote patriotic youth programs, most notably the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State and Girls Nation programs, held regionally and nationally, along with education programs, contests, and scholarships in local school systems.
Making our communities better places in which to live is another core value put into action by American Legion Auxiliary members every day across the country. Whether hosting a stand down to bring vital health and support services to homeless veterans or coordinating a send-off or welcome-home event for a deployed military unit, ALA members are continuously at work in their communities, demonstrating the compassion and heart we have for those who serve our country and protect our freedoms.
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 fields, in factories, warehouses, offices, at home.
We are a community. We help one another.
We love our flag 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.
Mission Statement
In the spirit of Service, Not Self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.
Vision Statement
The vision of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion while becoming the premier service organization and foundation of every community providing support for our veterans, our military, and their families by shaping a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace and security.
In fulfillment of our Mission, the American Legion Auxiliary adheres to the following purposes:
Our statement of values is predicated on the founding purposes:
The vision of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion while becoming the premier service organization and foundation of every community providing support for our veterans, our military, and their families by shaping a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace, and security.
We are one of the nation’s most prominent supporters of veterans, military, and their families. The American Legion Auxiliary helps to advance the mission of The American Legion.
From helping to draft the GI Bill in 1944 to advocating for veterans on Capitol Hill, the nonpartisan American Legion Family is instrumental in advancing legislation that improves the quality of life for our nation’s veterans and servicemembers.
3.2 million hours volunteered in serving veterans and military
Nearly 8,000 local Auxiliary units
Nearly $7 million raised and spent on youth, scholarships, communities
$1 million in scholarships awarded
Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary’s mission is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.
A group of 20 officers who served in the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I were asked to suggest ideas on how to improve troop morale. One officer, Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., proposed an organization of veterans, which we know today as The American Legion.
The original purpose of The Legion was to “preserve the memories and incidence of our association in the great war,” helping those who had served in foreign wars to reintegrate into their hometowns while still remaining connected to those with whom they had served abroad.
The Legion served as a support group, a social club and an extended family for former servicemen. After two planning caucuses held by a committee of officers who had the confidence and respect of their military comrades, they designed a constitution to govern the group and set up headquarters in New York City to begin work on its programs of relief, employment and Americanism.
After the formation of The American Legion, a number of women’s organizations wanted to become the official affiliation of The American Legion. The women who had served so faithfully during the trying days of the war wanted to continue to serve.
After careful consideration, the committee agreed that a new organization should be made up of the women most closely associated with the men of the Legion, and that these women would serve with the Legion, in peace as they had in war.
The committee decided to build a new organization from the ground up, so the Auxiliary could then carry forward the phases of Legion activities more suitably performed by women.
In less than one year, 1,342 local units of the Women’s Auxiliary to The American Legion had been organized in more than 45 states.
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.
Today, ALA members across the country are helping military families cope with the effects of multiple deployments. The toll on our all-volunteer force and their families has been enormous.
We know that military service is a sacrifice for the whole family, so ALA members quietly look for ways to ease the burden—whatever it takes to get that family back on their feet physically, mentally, socially and vocationally. If we don’t have the resources, we connect military families with our partners who do.
Please visit the other pages of our website to learn about or gain access to our administration, organization, programs and other information.
AUXILIARY DEPT. OFFICE
PO BOX 148000 Salt Lake City, UT 84114 -8000
(801) 539-1015
alautah@yahoo.com
350 N State Street #80 SLC, UT 84114
National Executive Committeewoman Judy Daybell
judy.daybell50@gmail.com
President Silvana Watanabe
silvanaw@comcast.net
1st Vice Pres. Tammy Barreca
2nd Vice Pres. Mike Rasmuson
mlrasmuson@gmail.com
Department Executive Director Cary Fisher
801-539-1015
alautah@yahoo.com
Chaplain Nancy Aerts
tigerlillynan@msn.com
Historian Hilary Rue
hsrue@outlook.com
Sgt-At-Arms Marlene Olivas
Sgt-At-Arms Virginia McKay
Parliamentarian Michelle McCullough
Americanism Donna Birk
Auxiliary Emergency Fund (AEF) Donna Sibert
Children & Youth Cary Fisher
Community Service Hilary Rue
Constitution & By-Laws Nancy Aerts
Distinguished Guests Judy Daybell
Education
Finance Carolyn Stromness
Girls State Chmn Carolyn Stromness
Girls State Director Jenn Hinton
Juniors Jacci Yei
Leadership Mike Rasmuson
Legislative
Membership Tammy Barreca
National Security Ellen Nathan
Past Presidents Parley Lenda Leek
Poppy Ellen Nathan
Public Relations
Resolutions Judy Lewis
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Judy Daybell (includes Gift Shop)
American Legion Auxiliary Department of Utah Office: alautah@yahoo.com
Phone: 801-539-1015
American Legion Department of Utah Office adjutant@utlegion.org
Phone: 801-539-1013
American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters https://alaforveterans.org
(member login required for some options)Phone: (317) 569-4500
American Legion Auxiliary scholarship applications https://www.alaforveterans.org/scholarships/
American Legion Auxiliary Foundation alafoundation.org
The American Legion National Headquarters http://legion.org
American Legion Flag and Emblem http://emblem.legion.org/
Facebook: American Legion Auxiliary – Utah https://www.facebook.com/deptutah/
George Wahlen VA Medical Center SLC www.saltlakecity.va.gov
Continue Mission https://www.continuemission.org/
Homeless Veterans Fellowship, Ogden Utah https://www.homelessveterans.org/
Blue Star Families Utah https://bluestarfam.org/
Honor 365 https://honor365.org/
