Junior Activities
Jane Schoonover – Chairman
junioractivities@ndala.org
Photo courtesy: IceBerg Images by Candace (Candace Berg)
There are now four patched levels to the American Legion Auxiliary Junior patch program. The newly created purple level is for preschoolers, ages three through kindergarten. Children of this age can earn their Americanism, Membership, and Poppy patches:
Americanism: educate yourself about the rights and responsibilities of an American citizen.
Membership: your eligibility for membership is a gift from a veteran. Poppy: The symbol of the sacrifices veterans have made.
For each of the three patches, four of the seven possible choices can be completed to earn the patch. For example, to earn the Americanism patch a member could recite the Pledge of Allegiance with an adult, color some pages in the ALA’s ‘America the Beautiful’ coloring books, draw a picture about what is important to you living in the United States, or have an adult identify the proper number of stars and stripes on the American flag.
In recent years, ALA national headquarters has fielded inquiries from mothers and junior activity chairs asking if anything could be sent for our young juniors who are working alongside older siblings. National Junior Activity committee chair, Barb Washburn, initiated a process of adding a new level for younger juniors which created the purple level. Any junior member of ALA and school-aged Sons of the American Legion can be part of the junior patch program. You don’t have to have an activity group to participate. This is a great way to get involved in learning about the ALA American Legion family, volunteering in the community and serving our countries veterans.
The other three level levels of the junior patch program include red level (first to the fourth grade); gold level (fifth to the eighth grade); and blue level (ninth to the twelfth grade). Our objective is to help a junior member earn their patches.
Build the Junior Activities Program one member at a time by giving Junior members a voice and an opportunity to participate.
Thank you for all you do for our veterans and our children.
Jane Schoonover, Department Junior Activities Chairman
- NW Division Newsletter – January 2026
- Unit Mailing 10-2025
- Junior Activity Program Engagement Plan 2025-2026
- Junior Activities Handbook
- Youth Programs Flyer
National Junior Activities Program
