When the American Legion gathered for its first national convention in 1919, the formation of a women’s auxiliary was on the agenda.
By the next year, more than 100,000 women had organized to advocate for veterans like Kathy Billingsly’s grandfather and other troops that had just returned from the First World War.
The family’s tradition of military service continued in the second. Billingsly’s father joined his 10 brothers to wear the nation’s uniform, earning a Purple Heart and other medals of valor for his bravery in Germany and France. Years later, he complained to his daughter that her biscuits tasted like the ones he ate overseas.
“Daddy didn’t like to talk about the service at all,” said Billingsly, second vice president of Byron Cox American Legion Auxiliary Unit 72, which is celebrating the national organization’s 100th anniversary this year.
Perhaps best known for selling red poppies in memory of fallen soldiers for Memorial Day, the American Legion Auxiliary raises millions of dollars annually for youth activities, scholarships and community programs. More than 8,000 local units serve alongside Legion posts.
Crawfordsville’s unit, which marks its own centennial in 2026, supports veterans programs by selling 50/50 tickets and holding raffles. The unit has 580 members.
“They’re all family,” said Carol Roberts, who serves as the group’s treasurer.
Spreading out in a meeting room one afternoon last week at the post, members recalled the last major event before the coronavirus shut down the Legion: A countdown event where hundreds of tickets were sold as a fundraiser. The auxiliary hopes it can run a belated poppy sale later this year.
The group led a round of applause for longtime auxiliary president Rosemary Hutchison, who said “just serving the veterans” has driven her passion. Under her direction, the unit prepares meals for Bingo nights and lunches at the posts and supports programs headed by post commander Rodney Strong.
The auxiliary also sponsors residents of the Indiana Veterans Home who receive gifts on their birthdays and for Christmas. Residents have also played Bingo at the post.
Like other service organizations, the auxiliary is looking for new members. Last year, the national organization allowed male spouses of U.S. veterans and servicemembers to join. Children and teenagers can also join as junior members.
Sherri Rice, whose grandparents were active in the Legion, recently signed on to the unit. After donating items to a recent fundraiser, she said she was ready to serve in other ways.
The auxiliary meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month except in July or December. Dues are $25 for senior members and $7 for juniors ages 0-18.
