President’s Corner
Sandy Smith – Department President
Greetings Auxiliary Members.
Thank you all for the kindness, support, and encouragement you have shown as we begin our journey together through the 2026-2027 administrative year. I am truly grateful for the warm welcome I have received. It has already been such a meaningful and inspiring experience, and I look forward to meeting many more of you as I travel throughout North Dakota for the upcoming District meetings and other community events.
My eligibility is deeply personal to me. It comes through my late husband, Don, who served in the U.S. Army; my brother, Tom Banse, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War; my son, Carl, a former U.S. Army medic with the 82nd Airborne in Iraq; and my grandson, Zachary Gustafson, who is currently stationed with the U.S. Air Force. Their service, along with the service of so many others, is a constant reminder of why our mission matters.
As our new administrative year begins, I know units are already planning activities that reflect the heart of who we are—supporting our veterans, strengthening our communities, and serving our children and youth. I would be honored to visit your unit if possible, so please feel free to reach out by calling or texting me. I look forward to hearing about the wonderful work you are doing and sharing those moments with you.
At this time, I am asking all the wonderful members of the Department of North Dakota to join me in supporting my President’s Project: a scholarship that will help a veteran pursue training at a trade school and take the next step toward a meaningful future. In honor of our nation’s birthday, I invite each adult member to give just a nickel a day for 250 days. It is a small daily gift, but when we give together, it becomes a powerful expression of gratitude and support for someone who has served our country.
Please take care of yourself and one another. May we continue to serve with grateful hearts, open hands, and a shared commitment to honoring those who have given so much. God bless America.
Sandy Smith, Department President (2026-2027)
- August 2026 Unit Mailing
- Message from Past Department President Candace Berg
- Message Article June 2026
- York Legion Family Day 4-2026
Shelley Shuster – Department President-Elect
Membership
Alicia Randall – Department Vice President
Photo courtesy: IceBerg Images by Candace (Candace Berg)
