Junior members play a critical role in the activities of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 9 in Jasper, Ala. During the 2025-2026 ALA administrative year, nearly 40 percent of the unit’s 43 members were Juniors.
 
Unit 9 named its first Junior Activities chair, Heather Washington, to oversee its active group of Juniors. The younger members participate in a variety of activities and have earned impressive honors — from leading the Pledge of Allegiance at unit meetings while also conducting their own gatherings, to coordinating and conducting outreach and service activities, to receiving ALA and community accolades at the local, state, and national levels.
 

“From the very beginning, we viewed our Junior program as really important,” said Linda Snow, unit treasurer. “It was an investment. Anything we did, we made sure we included our Juniors.”
 
Unit 9’s commitment to its Junior members is significant but not unusual in Alabama.
 
The ALA department places a high priority on Junior Activities, aiming to strengthen young people’s commitment to serving veterans while also creating a pipeline of future senior members throughout Alabama. 
 
The state boasts youth events with a long history of attracting Juniors — including a leadership camp that for decades has drawn dozens of young participants to learn about subjects ranging from patriotism to parliamentary procedure.
 
Snow and Washington of Unit 9 and Arletha Tucker, Alabama department Junior Activities chair, spoke of the benefits of focusing on attracting and engaging Junior members. Here are some of the reasons they said it’s important for the ALA to emphasize active Junior membership:
 
They’re good ambassadors. Junior members often get their friends interested in the ALA. Juniors’ hard work also impresses adults, making those adults more likely to join the organization. “We all feel that our youth programs are our reward,” Snow said, “and I think it’s also true of the community.”
 
They get senior members involved. Senior members whose children are Juniors are likely to engage in ALA activities. “If the kids are doing it, the parents are doing it,” Snow said.
 
They represent the future. Active Junior members are prepared to become senior members who support the ALA’s mission, with many continuing their work with the organization. “The transition is not difficult for them as they work with senior members,” Tucker said. 
 
“Once they get in here, they’re there for life,” Washington said of Unit 9’s Juniors. “They’re doing this based on their belief system, and they feel like they’re actually contributing.” 
 
Tips for getting Junior members involved
Linda Snow, Heather Washington, and Arletha Tucker of the ALA in Alabama shared tips 
for encouraging strong Junior participation, based on the state’s success:
• Embrace their energy. “They make everything fun and light, and they have ideas and things they want to try,” Washington said. “So, allow Junior members to make some decisions about what they’re doing in their community and not just always telling them what to do.” 
• Incorporate online tools. Unit 9 conducts online meetings for Juniors, with Washington — a retired teacher and counselor — introducing Google Classroom for posting information. “They’re great kids who are involved in everything,” she said of Junior members. “With Google Classroom, they can go to information whenever they are free to do it.”
• Start with a few members. “You don’t have to feel like you’ve got to have six kids to do this,” Snow said. “If you’ve got one, they can invite a friend. That can be your Juniors group.”
• Include them in senior activities. “Because their teaching comes from the seniors in their unit, I would include them in everything,” Tucker said. “And they’ll prosper.”