Foreign Relations builds and equips kitchens and warehouses for Cambodian refugees in Thailand.

In February, the newly-created American Legion Auxiliary Awareness Assembly is conducted in Washington, D.C. Foreign Relations donates to the Eluwa School for the Deaf and Blind in Namibia.

The National News accepts paid advertising.

The “Friends of Our Little Brothers” Children’s Home in Mexico receives $90,000 for irrigation wells.

Foreign Relations raises $66,366 for Father Flavian Nucci’s Home for Special Children in El Salvador.

The Auxiliary funds and dedicates the Job Nave Clerestory Window in the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

The National President’s project, The Secret of Animal Island, a comic book illustrating safety tips for children, set Auxiliary records for response from the general public.

Legion/Auxiliary members hold an open forum on the MIA/POW issue. The Auxiliary presents the Public Spirit Award to rescue personnel of Midland, Texas, for saving Jessica McClure. The Golden Press/Golden Mike Awards are retired – the Heart of America Awards are initiated.

The Supreme Court rules that burning the U.S. flag is protected under the First Amendment.

The National Emergency fund is established for disaster victims. The Auxiliary’s Washington, D.C. Office closes. The Auxiliary celebrates its 70th year. The Family Support Network assists families of U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf. Eligibility dates include veterans of Grenada, Lebanon and Panama. Marilyn Quayle is Woman of the Year.

Dr. Robert Schuler receives the Public Spirit Award. Erma Bombeck is Woman of the Year.

The Auxiliary introduces the “Young People and Relationships” video. The Auxiliary builds the “All Woman” House at Habitat International’s Jimmy Carter Work Project in Washington. Auxiliary Public Spirit Award winner is Mrs. Robin Higgins, widow of Lt. Col. William Higgins, who was killed by terrorists in Lebanon. Eligibility dates are extended to include veterans of the Persian Gulf War.

The Auxiliary enhances its focus on homeless veterans. More than 1 million pounds of food are collected and donated to assist homeless veterans across the nation.

Teen Court, which offers an alternative to the formal juvenile justice system, is introduced to Auxiliary members. Teen Court allows young offenders to be tried and sentenced by a jury of their peers. Auxiliary members initiated 17 Teen Courts around the country. The Citizens Flag Alliance is formed to pass a constitutional amendment to protect the American flag from intentional physical desecration.

The American Legion Auxiliary celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Samsung endows a scholarship for a Girls State or Boys State citizen who is a descendent of a Korean War Veteran. Elizabeth and Zachary Fisher receive the Public Spirit Award for recognition of the Fisher House Foundation. Fiftieth session of Girls Nation is celebrated.

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton receives the Public Spirit Award for her promotion of children and youth issues. Past National President Linda M. Newsome cut the ribbon for the dedication of the Woman in Military Service Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Auxiliary became involved with the President’s Summit for America’s Future and the Children’s Miracle Network. Maryland Lt. Governor, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend was named Woman of the Year.

Auxiliary emphasizes a family theme through embarking on a year of service to the family. Taste of NFL was the recipient of more and $30,000 to help feed the hungry. The Auxiliary also became an official sponsor of the Children’s Miracle Network. National President Barbara Kranig appeared on the nationally televised telethon. Miss American, Kate Shindle, was a special guest at the Awareness Assembly.

National President Virginia Hobbs calls for members to become more aware of the desperate need for organ and tissue donations. Public Spirit Award winner James Redford brings further awareness with his documentaries on the miracle of transplantation. Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire is recognized as the Woman of the Year. Program highlights include fundraising for the World War II memorial.

Auxiliary members celebrate the new century and millennium under the theme, “Celebrate America 2000”. Through an aggressive fund-raising campaign, members raise more than $660,000 for the World War II Memorial – nearly tripling its two-year goal of $250,000. National President Elizabeth Stewart uses her national platform to promote breast cancer awareness.

Under the leadership of National President Kristine West, the American Legion Auxiliary becomes a host sponsor of the Department of National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. The National President and National Vice President Sherry McLaughlin witnesses the groundbreaking of the World War II Memorial In November 2000, and the inauguration of George W. Bush in January 2001 as the 43rd President of the United States. Woman of the Year honors went to First Lady Laura Bush at the 2001 National Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

In response to the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, Auxiliary members donated nearly $100,000 to various relief efforts. The first Unit Development and Revitalization seminar is held to educate members from each Department about helping struggling Units, creating new Units and retaining members. National President Sherry McLaughlin’s Special Project, the Spirit of Youth Fund, raised over $70,000 for scholarships. Retired Foreign Service Officer Kathryn Koob is honored as Woman of the Year.

American Legion Auxiliary members respond to the wartime deployment of U.S. troops overseas in “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. Members donate hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal items shipped To U.S. forces, and assist the families of those deployed through The American Legion Family Support network. National President Elsie Bailey’s project, the “Veterans’ Pot of Gold”, directed funds to VA facilities, homeless veterans programs and other critical need areas affecting veterans. The National President presented the Auxiliary’s Public Spirit Award to Secretary of State Colin Powell; bestowed an “America’s Hope” Award on the Quecreek miners rescued in July 1992. Country artist Chely Wright received “Woman of the Year” honors.

National President Katherine Morris presented the Auxiliary’s Woman of the Year award to Audrey Fisher, the Fisher House Ambassador. Alma Powell received the Public Spirit Award for America’s Promise and Best Friends Foundation. On May 29, 2004, the National President led a delegation of officers and Past National Presidents to the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Set on the National Mall between the Lincoln and Washington Monuments, the memorial is a tribute to the World War II generation of men and women who served our country. The Auxiliary’s fundraising efforts for the memorial began in 1998 and resulted in the Auxiliary’s achievement of “Patron” donor status. Altogether, The American Legion Family’s donations to the World War II memorial totaled $4.4 million.

Country music artist Barbara Mandrell was honored as Woman of the Year and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright received the Public Spirit Award by National President Sandi Dutton. As a national Co-sponsor along with the VA and Help Hospitalized Veterans, the Auxiliary donated more than $75,000 to the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. The National President joined American Legion National Commander Tom Cadmus and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to initiate the newly formed affiliation among the Citizens Corps, The American Legion and the Auxiliary to raise public awareness about emergency preparedness, disaster response training and volunteer service.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was honored as the Auxiliary’s Woman of the Year, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson received the Public Spirit Award from National President Carol Van Kirk. Within days after national convention, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, devastating portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Not long after, Hurricane Rita brought more devastation to the same area along with parts of Texas. In the aftermath of the two deadly hurricanes, Auxiliary Members encouraged members who had suffered loss to apply for Auxiliary Emergency Fund assistance. Due to members’ generosity, the fund provided more than $600,000 directly to disaster relief and another $55,000 for emergency assistance.

National President Jan Pulvermacher-Ryan initiated an endowment fund for the National President’s Scholarship and championed as “Educating Children of Warriors” with a goal of $1.2 million. Tara Crooks, military lifestyle writer and talk radio host was named Woman of the Year. Four Auxiliary members received the Public Spirit Award; Elizabeth Johnston, President/Founder, Mothers of Military Support; Karen Degner, Coordinator for Military Families Connect; Marian Chirichella, Founder, Angels of Mercy; and Karen Grimord, President/Founder, the Landstuhl Hospital Care Project. A collaboration between the American Legion Auxiliary and the Corporation for National and Community Service was forged.

The Auxiliary moved its National Headquarters from deteriorated, inadequate office space in downtown Indianapolis to adequate space a few miles north at 8945 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis. National President Desiree Stoy honored Lori Stevens, found of Year. The Public Spirit Award was presented to Michele Cuppy, President/CFO, Sew Much Comfort, and to Morrill Worcester, Owner, Worcester Wreath Co., for “Wreaths Across America” which lays Christmas wreaths on every gravesite in national veterans cemeteries. The Auxiliary received a national AmeriCorps grant and became the only veteran service organization to become a Volunteers In Service To America national sponsoring organization. Patriot PAWS, as the Auxiliary’s Woman of the

The Auxiliary celebrated its 90th anniversary year of Service Not Self for veterans, God and country, in celebration of the ALA’s founding on November 10, 2009. The American Legion Auxiliary Call to Service Corps VISTA Project launched. Seventeen federal AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) members were assigned to ALA National Headquarters and nine states for their one year of service, an award of a half million dollars in human resources to help the ALA build its volunteer capacity to help alleviate poverty among veterans, military service members and their families. National President Rita Navarrete presented the Public Spirit Award to Ride 2 Recovery, accepted by founder John Wordin. The Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Iraqi War heroine, was named the Auxiliary’s Woman of the Year. The national magazine is redesigned and renamed Auxiliary.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was honored as the Auxiliary’s Woman of the Year, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson received the Public Spirit Award from National President Carol Van Kirk. Within days after national convention, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, devastating portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Not long after, Hurricane Rita brought more devastation to the same area along with parts of Texas. In the aftermath of the two deadly hurricanes, Auxiliary Members encouraged members who had suffered loss to apply for Auxiliary Emergency Fund assistance. Due to members’ generosity, the fund provided more than $600,000 directly to disaster relief and another $55,000 for emergency assistance.