American Legion Auxiliary
Peter J Courcy Unit 178
Frisco, Texas
Poppy Program
From the battlefields of World War I, weary soldiers brought home the memory of a barren landscape transformed by wild poppies, red as the blood that had soaked the soil. By that miracle of nature, the spirit of their lost comrades lived on. The poppy became a symbol of the sacrifice of lives in war and represented the hope that none had died in vain.
The American Legion Auxiliary poppy has continued to bloom for the casualties of four wars, its petals of paper bound together for veterans by veterans, reminding America each year that the men and women who have served and died for their country deserve to be remembered.
The poppy, as a memorial flower to the war dead, can be traced to a single individual, Moina Michael. In 1918, she was so moved by Lt. Col. McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Fields,” that she wrote a response:
. . . the blood of heroes never dies
But lends a luster to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders’ Fields.
On impulse, she bought a bouquet of poppies – all that New York City’s Wanamaker’s Department Store had – and handed them to businessmen meeting at the New York YMCA where she worked. She asked them to wear the poppy as a tribute to the fallen. That was November 1918. World War I was over, but America’s sons would rest forever “in Flanders’ Fields.” Later she would spearhead a campaign that would result in the adoption of the poppy as the national symbol of sacrifice.”
The American Legion Auxiliary, Peter J. Courcy Unit 178 was chartered in 2015, one year after the American Legion Post 178 was formed.
Our Unit, along with Legion Post 178, are named for Cpl. Peter John Courcy, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009 while serving our country. Read more about our namesake hero here.
Unit 178 participates in many community activities, including:
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Participating in patriotic and veteran-supporting activities around Frisco
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Supporting the American Legion Post 178 and its activities throughout the year
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Sending students to Girls State
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Sponsoring an ALA Juniors program for eligible girls under age 18
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Support of the ladies in residence at the Texas State Veterans Home in Bonham, TX
The Mission, Vision and Values of the ALA
Vision Statement
The vision of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion while becoming the premier service organization and foundation of every community providing support for our veterans, our military, and their families by shaping a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace and security.
Mission Statement
In the spirit of service, not self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.
Purposes
In fulfillment of our Mission, the American Legion Auxiliary adheres to the following purposes:
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To support and advocate for veterans, active military and their families
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To support the initiatives and programs of The American Legion
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To foster patriotism and responsible citizenship
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To award scholarships and promote quality education and literacy
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To provide educational and leadership opportunities that uphold the ideals of freedom and democracy and encourage good citizenship and patriotism in government
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To increase our capacity to deliver our Mission by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities within our communities
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To empower our membership to achieve personal fulfillment through “service not self”
Values
Our statement of values is predicated on the founding purposes:
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Commitment to the four founding principles: Justice, Freedom, Democracy, Loyalty
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Service to God, our country, its veterans and their families
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Tradition of patriotism and citizenship
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Personal integrity and family values
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Respect for the uniqueness of individual members
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Truthful open communication in dealing with the public and our members
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Adherence to the adopted policies and rules