American Legion Auxiliary
The American Legion Auxiliary is where the Legion's family belongs in its own name — spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren — and after its 2026 eligibility expansion, that door is wider than it has ever been, with Gold Star families named expressly.
- Founded: 1919, during the first National Convention of The American Legion
- Status: 501(c)(19) veterans’ organization; the auxiliary of The American Legion (no separate congressional charter)
- Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Reach: members in “nearly 7,200 local communities” in the U.S. and abroad; its National Headquarters describes mission outreach delivered by “over 600,000 volunteers” (the Auxiliary’s own figures; it publishes no single membership total)
- Website: alaforveterans.org
Who can join — stated exactly
Under the Auxiliary’s current eligibility language, membership covers grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and direct or adopted descendants within two degrees of consanguinity of:
- members of The American Legion; and
- servicemembers who served April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918, or at any time after December 7, 1941, and who died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge.
Women who are themselves eligible for the American Legion may also join in their own right. The Auxiliary’s own FAQ notes the 2026 change gives Gold Star Families an avenue to join and honor their relatives. (Older department pages may still show the pre-2026 wording — “grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants”; the national language above is current.)
What it does
Its largest program is Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation (VA&R) — members volunteer in veterans homes and VA medical centers, and the Auxiliary co-presents the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. Other standing programs: Children & Youth, Americanism, Community Service, Education, Legislative, National Security, the Poppy Program, ALA Girls State and Girls Nation, and Junior Activities. Its Programs Division states its work ensures “the needs of our military and veterans, as well as their families and caregivers, are met.” The Auxiliary runs no claims-representation service of its own — claims accreditation belongs to The American Legion, whose service officers help families free, member or not.
How a family uses it
- Join through ALAforVeterans.org; membership questions: membership@ALAforVeterans.org.
- National Headquarters: (317) 569-4500.
Eligibility language is drawn from the Auxiliary's own published materials (alaforveterans.org / legion-aux.org), checked October 2026 — including its 2026 eligibility resolution. The Auxiliary's own site governs. Corrections: care@bowmanwebservices.com.