By Maggie Smith 

There are certain women you will never forget meeting. Not because they were loud or held a fancy title. But because things were better when they were around. When I think about why ALA National Headquarters’ Development Division started Celebrating Women of Service, I think about women like Juli. 

I met Juli at the ALA National Convention in New Orleans. It was my first time attending convention and I was overwhelmed. I was surrounded by strangers, had a lot of responsibility, and wanted to prove I could do everything right. I was excited to be there, but I also felt like I was out in the middle of the ocean and had forgotten how to swim.

While I was walking through the expo hall, Juli introduced herself to me. We started talking and I found myself drawn in by her passion for the ALA and the work she was doing to serve veterans in her community. She spoke with so much enthusiasm about all the amazing things her unit had done and the work she hoped to do next.
Juli told me about her dream of creating a safe living space for homeless veterans. She had even found the perfect place. It was still just an idea at the time, but she was so passionate about this dream that I couldn’t help but believe in it too. Juli did not speak hypothetically; she spoke from the heart with the kind of determination that promises something will happen, even if it hasn’t yet.

Throughout the week, Juli made a point to check in on me. Every morning, Juli would stop by the Wall of Heroes to ask how I was doing and tell me all about the amazing people she was meeting and what she was learning about. I’m not sure if she realized just how overwhelmed I was, but her daily check-ins mattered more to me than she probably knew. Each day, I looked forward to seeing a familiar face, hearing about Juli’s passions, and being reminded why we were all gathered in the first place.

Service isn’t always loud; it’s noticing someone who might need encouragement. It’s sharing a vision, even when it’s still taking shape. It’s showing up daily with a smile, and making someone feel supported.

Across the American Legion Auxiliary, women like Juli lead in this way every day. They serve veterans and military families. They strengthen communities. They offer steady presence, often without realizing just how deeply their actions are felt. And sometimes, these women change the course of someone else’s experience simply by being there.

On March 8, the ALA Foundation will celebrate women who lead with heart on the fourth annual Celebrating Women of Service Day. Women whose service reminds us of what it means to care for others. Women who strengthen communities not by seeking the spotlight, but by shining their light on those who need it most.

You know her. 

The woman who shows up.
The one who checks in.
The one who makes things feel a little lighter.

You are her.

Join the ALA Foundation and celebrate women like Juli and the countless others whose service shapes lives in ways both big and small. Their impact deserves to be celebrated. 

We invite you to honor the woman who leads with heart and purpose. The woman who made a difference in your unit, your family, or your life. Together, let us celebrate women whose dedication continues to shape a stronger future for all.

When you make a tribute gift in honor of a woman who inspires you, your generosity supports the ALA Mission Endowment Fund and helps sustain the programs that make this service possible. Your gift carries her impact forward and supports women who serve side by side every day.

Make a gift in her honor by texting WOMAN to 1-844-940-3450 or by visiting https://donate.legion-aux.org/woman. 

On behalf of the ALA Foundation Board of Directors, thank you for joining us in celebrating the women whose service shapes a stronger future for all.