Auxiliary’s Children and Youth Program

The purpose of the committee is to work collaboratively with The American Legion to promote programs that protect, care for, and support children and youth, especially those of our military and veterans.

The Children & Youth program emphasizes protecting, caring for, and supporting children and youth, particularly those of veterans’ and military families.

Key Program Statements

  • The program emphasizes protecting, caring for, and supporting children and youth, particularly those of veterans’ and military families.
  • To recognize and reward the positive actions of our children and youth, the American Legion Auxiliary has two special national awards bestowed to youth nominated by units: the Youth Hero Award and the Good Deed Award.
  • Kids of Deployed are Heroes 2 (KDH2) is an initiative honoring military children who may be experiencing a separation from one or both parents, whether deployed to a war zone, having a short tour or on an extended temporary duty assignment.
  • Support and promote the Children and Youth program of The American Legion.

This program provides care and strives to improve conditions for all children. The program works to preserve the integrity of the family unit and takes a realistic approach to the needs of children by considering the physical and spiritual, as well as the emotional and educational aspects, of each situation. The program cooperates with many other public and private community agencies and organizations and supports essential legislation for children at the national, state, and local levels. In some cases, the program offers direct financial assistance and services to individual children or to the families of veterans. Auxiliary members also contribute to The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, which was established in 1954 to fund special programs and projects which emphasize preventative solutions to difficult children’s issues. Educating members and the general public about these issues is a primary goal of the Auxiliary’s Children and Youth program.

Get Involved

Purpose: The purpose of the Children & Youth Committee is to work collaboratively with The American Legion to promote programs that protect, care for, and support children and youth, especially those of our military and veterans. Standing Rules 6, Core National Standing Committees

The Children & Youth program emphasizes protecting, caring for, and supporting children and youth, particularly those of veterans’ and military families.

  • Wear purple April 15 in honor of Purple Up! Day for Military Kids.
  • Perform the Military Child Table ceremony at a unit meeting or in your community.
  • Contact your local churches, homeless shelters, and food pantries to identify homeless veterans’ children. Ask what their specific needs are and offer them your services as an ALA member.
  • Contact your local news sources (newspaper, community television, community websites, and social media accounts) and town council with an offer to give a presentation about you and your unit’s work for veterans and military children.
  • Plan a special celebration for children during the month of April in honor of Children & Youth Month and Month of the Military Child (#momc).
  • Host a dinner, game night, or community fair, etc., that will bring military and non-military families together.

To recognize and reward the positive actions of our children and youth, the American Legion Auxiliary has two special national awards bestowed to youth nominated by units: the Youth Hero Award and the Good Deed Award.

Kids of Deployed are Heroes 2 (KDH2) is an initiative honoring military children who may be experiencing a separation from one or both parents, whether deployed to a war zone, having a short tour, or on an extended temporary duty assignment. 

The American Legion Auxiliary Children & Youth program strives to support and promote the Children & Youth program of The American Legion.

  • Work with your post to organize celebrations for the youth in your community. Host an Easter egg hunt, a Christmas party, or a family movie night, etc.
  • Work with your post to cross promote youth programs. Invite Legionnaires to speak at a unit meeting about Legion Boys State, Legion Baseball, Oratorical Contest, etc. Speak at a post meeting about ALA Girls State, Junior Activities, etc.

Deadlines/Important Dates

  • Unit Report due to Department Chair: April 15.
  • April is the Month of the Military Child (#momc)
  • April 15: Purple Up! Day for Military Children

  • Department Chairman Report due to National Committee: May 15.

  • Unit Award: Most Outstanding Unit Children & Youth Program (per division) — submitted by 5 p.m. ET on June 1. Awards form available at National Awards Form.
  • Department Award: Best Department Children & Youth Program (per division) — submitted by 5 p.m. ET on June 1.

Contact our Children & Youth Chair:

Programs