The Fridley American Legion Family
Officers and Chairmen
Legion
Commander: Ted Flickinger
1st Vice & Membership: Tad Jude
2nd Vice: Jeff DeWanz
Adjutant: Paul Orson
Chaplain: Malcolm Watson
Finance: Paul Orson
Sergeant at Arms: Erik Hendrickson
Auxiliary
President: Deb Donner
1st Vice & Membership: Kellie Hendrix
2nd Vice: Sharon Elmquist
Secretary: Dawn Lange following Anita Costello
Chaplain: MaryAnn O’Brien
Treasurer: Kathy Bordeaux
Sergeant at Arms: Nancy Taylor
SAL
Commander: Garrett Hendrix
1st Vice & Membership: Dale Genadek
Chaplain: Wayne Holcombe
Finance: Jim Hennessey
Sergeant at Arms: Dave Knollmaier
Riders
Director: Dan Freund
Asst Dir: Roger Bilderback
Membership: Frank Anderson
Ride Captain: Dave Swanson
Secretary: Erik Hendrickson
Chaplain: Gerry Geisinger
Treasurer: Gerry Geisinger
Sergeant at Arms: Jim Green
Fridley American Legion Post 303
Legionnaires
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness
Mission
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans. The Operation Comfort Warriors program supports recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing them with "comfort items" and the kind of support that makes a hospital feel a little bit more like home. The Legion also raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families during times of need and to provide college scholarship opportunities. The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation's veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership. The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.
Preamble to the Constitution
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES TOGETHER FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; To maintain law and order; To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; To make right the master of might; To promote peace and goodwill on earth; To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
Family and Youth
Meetings and National Affairs
Community
Fridley American Legion Auxiliary Unit 303
Service, Not Self
What We Do: Mission, Vision and Purposes
Mission
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
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.
What the Fridley American Legion Auxiliary does:
Auxiliary Steak or Fish Fry – 3rd Friday of every month
Children’s Halloween Party
Auxiliary Bake Sales
Holiday Bazaar
Children’s Christmas Party
Fundraisers
Blood Drives
Meat Raffles
Veteran’s Day Dinner
American Legion Auxiliary MN Girls State & American Legion MN Boys State
Areas of Mission Outreach
Youth Development
ALA Girls Nation
Two participants per state, known as “senators,” are chosen to represent their respective ALA Girls State programs. A week is spent creating a mock legislature, submitting bills and resolutions, participating in senate sessions, holding a national convention, and electing officials such as president and vice president.
Special field trips include visits to the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, monument tours, and a day on Capitol Hill meeting with state senators and representatives. The week of government training also features appearances by special guest speakers. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has recognized ALA Girls Nation by placing it on the National Advisory List of Contests and Activities.
Children & Youth
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 recognizes someone less than 18 years of age who performs a heroic act of physical bravery. The Good Deed Award is for youths 18 years of age or younger who have contributed in a special way to society through community service.
MN ALA Girls State
MN ALA Girls State is a unique and exciting government-in-action learning program in which American Legion Auxiliary members guide young women to become knowledgeable stewards of freedom, democracy and patriotic citizens. The program epitomizes the ALA’s mission to honor those who have brought us our freedom through our enduring commitment to develop young women as future leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. The young women learn our democratic process and how our republic form of government works at the city, county and state level by living it for a week in the summer after their junior year of high school.
Female high school juniors interested in applying to attend MN ALA Girls State are encouraged to contact their school counselor or their local American Legion Auxiliary unit regarding the application process and deadline.
Junior Activities
Engaging the next generation to become members in the American Legion Auxiliary is the important purpose of the Junior Activities Program. Junior Auxiliary membership is open to girls from infancy through age 17. The Junior Activities Committee prepares girls to become active adult members of the organization by providing positive volunteer experiences that instill the ideals of the Auxiliary.
Advocacy for Veterans
Legislation
The American Legion Auxiliary supports the legislative priorities adopted by The American Legion. The American Legion’s Legislative Division in Washington, D.C., keeps abreast of current legislation related to veterans’ benefits, national security, and children and youth. Auxiliary members are encouraged to subscribe to the Legion’s legislative e-bulletins to keep the Legion Family aware of legislative issues and the official positions of The American Legion on those issues.
Here is a link to the American Legion's Legislative Handbook.
Purposes
In fulfillment of our Mission, the American Legion Auxiliary adheres to the following purposes:
To support and advocate for veterans, active military and their families
To support the initiatives and programs of The American Legion
To foster patriotism and responsible citizenship
To award scholarships and promote quality education and literacy
To provide educational and leadership opportunities that uphold the ideals of freedom and democracy and encourage good citizenship and patriotism in government
To increase our capacity to deliver our Mission by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities within our communities
To empower our membership to achieve personal fulfillment through Service Not Self
Check out our Facebook page for details on all of our events - All proceeds made during any of our events go towards our Veterans programs.
Veterans/Military Support
Poppy Program
National Poppy Day broadens a tradition that dates back to the American Legion Auxiliary’s first National Convention in the early 1920s when the red poppy was adopted as The American Legion Family’s memorial flower. Today, it remains an iconic symbol of honor for the sacrifice of our veterans. ALA members distribute millions of poppies annually across the country in exchange for donations that go directly to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans in our communities.
The financial benefit realized by our nation’s veterans as a result of poppy distribution is huge; nearly 3.5 million American Legion Auxiliary poppies were distributed by units last year, raising $2.1 million. Children are involved in spreading the poppy message, too. Poppy Poster Contests are held in local schools for students in grades 2 to 12. The Miss Poppy Contest is a fun event for Junior Auxiliary members who develop local programs to promote the Auxiliary memorial poppy.
National Security program
The National Security Committee is dedicated to fostering a robust national defense.
Raise Awareness: Highlight the efforts of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) in locating prisoners of war and missing in action personnel.
Support Military Families: The ALA National Security program aims to strengthen defense by assisting military servicemembers and their families.
Collaboration: Partner with command groups and family readiness organizations to support all military families.
Quality of Life Initiatives: Enhance Legion Family and partner projects that aim to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families.
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
Coming home may be the end of one journey for many veterans; it is also the beginning of a new journey to transition to a “new normal.” Helping them get there is at the core of the purpose and service of the American Legion Auxiliary. Members are passionate about providing care and comfort to our heroic U.S. service members who are so highly deserving of everything we can possibly do for them.
At VA facilities, Auxiliary-sponsored gift shops and holiday parties have become a revered tradition and valued program. Members, units, and departments also purchase essential equipment and supplies for these facilities.
Americanism Program
The aim of the Americanism program is to foster patriotism and encourage responsible citizenship.
Become well-versed in flag history, etiquette, and appropriate disposal methods.
Encourage the celebration of patriotic holidays, making the ALA a go-to source for your community's information.
Boost participation in the Americanism Essay Contest. (Visit the national website for more details on the contest.)
Engage in promoting The American Legion's Americanism programs.
Community Service
The Community Service Committee aims to uphold the American Legion Auxiliary’s dedication to improving our communities through support for local service initiatives. Auxiliary members across the nation work tirelessly every day to make our communities better places to live. Since 1926, Community Service has been a significant outreach program of the Auxiliary, highlighting our enduring commitment to assist American Legion posts and various organizations. This support includes:
Blood drives
First aid and CPR training
Child safety programs
Assistance for women in shelters
Disaster and emergency preparedness initiatives
Together, we strive to enhance the quality of life within our communities.
Sons of the Fridley American Legion
Founded in 1932, Sons of The American Legion exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires.
S.A.L. members include males of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the U.S. military and were eligible for American Legion membership. Members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion comprise the Legion Family, which has a combined membership of nearly 3 million.
Although Sons has its own membership, the organization is not a separate entity. Rather, S.A.L. is a program of The American Legion. Many Legionnaires hold dual membership in S.A.L.
Sons Membership Eligibility Requirements
All male descendants, adopted sons, and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of veterans who died in service during World War I, and December 7, 1941, to date, as set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of The American Legion, or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion.
There shall be no forms or class of membership except an active membership.
Fridley American Legion Riders
American Legion Rider groups shall abide by The American Legion Constitution and By-laws as well as the established Post and Department directives.
The American Legion National Headquarters and the respective Departments shall maintain general oversight of ALR Program as regards to proper use of the name and emblem of The American Legion, ALR and The American Legion Legacy Run, and compliance with the National Constitution and By-Laws of The American Legion.
American Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children's hospitals, schools, veterans homes, severely wounded servicemembers and scholarships. Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in The American Legion Legacy Run to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.
FROM RESOLUTION 35 AS VOTED ON BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION ON OCTOBER 17-18, 2007 AND AMENDED BY RESOLUTION 32 BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION ON MAY 4-5, 2011
All American Legion Rider groups must be a program supported by a Post or Department of The American Legion and shall uphold the declared principles of The American Legion as well as conform to and abide by the regulations and decisions of the Department, Post or other duly constituted Department governing body.
The following guidelines are recommended for The ALR program of The American Legion:
All members of The American Legion Riders shall be current members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion
Each ALR member shall establish and maintain membership by owning, individually or through marriage, a motorcycle licensed and insured as required by state law
ALR programs may allow for continued membership for those members who have given up motorcycle ownership because of age, illness, injury, or other reasons outside the member's control
All ALR members shall strive to maintain the image of The American Legion, at all times upholding The American Legion name and emblem, which symbolizes the integrity and principles of this great organization
All The ALR groups shall avoid the perception of being a "motorcycle club" or biker club"
The only recognized The American Legion Rider logo is that which is copyrighted and sold through The American Legion National Emblem sales
All Members will obey the motorcycle laws of their state
No use of rockers with the ALR patch because touching the patch violates trademark laws of the ALR patch
Sponsoring organization (Post and Department) will review liability insurance coverage to ensure that adequate coverage is available to cover the organization to include coverage for any specific special riding events.