Memorial Day is the day Americans set aside to honor those brave men and women who met tragic ends during times of war. We must use this day to honor their sacrifices, to pray for their families, and to bow our heads in recognition of their service. We must never forget.

You have seen their faces, heard their names and maybe even heard their voices — those who gave the ultimate sacrifice during all wars. This Memorial Day, American Legion Auxiliary General Buckner Unit No.16 members would like to invite Homer area residents to join us in remembrance of our nation’s fallen heroes.

The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization, with nearly 800,000 members and 9,000 units in communities across the nation. The American Legion Auxiliary serves nearly 1 million veterans every year. Right here in Homer, we continue to help mitigate the challenges our veterans face and deliver upon our mission by organizing multiple events throughout the year to support veterans and their families in civilian life.

I invite you to pause today to remember those who have fought for our freedoms.

American Legion Auxiliary members have dedicated themselves for nearly a century to meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military and their families both here and abroad. They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value of nearly $2 billion. As part of the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization, Auxiliary volunteers across the country also step up to honor veterans and military through annual scholarships and with ALA Girls State programs, teaching high school juniors to be leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. 

To learn more about the Auxiliary’s mission or to volunteer, donate or join, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org.

Beth Anderson, president

American Legion Auxiliary 

General Buckner Unit No. 1