American Legion Auxiliary - 297 Department Headquarters

Americanism: To promote patriotism and good citizenship. Major activities include an essay contest in grades 3-8. The topic is decided annually by National Organization and impemented by Units. Monetary awards are given at various levels to children. The Girls State program is a weeklong residential program held at a Maryland University for female students who have just completed their junior year of high school. The structure of city, county and state levels of government are studies using an interactive approach including elections of officials and exercises writing bills, collecting "taxes", etc. Legislative experience includes debate of bills recently considered by the state legislature. Judicial experience features a mock trial. Guest speakers include officials from various levels of government and lobbyists who present pro and con arguments in an attempt to sway students to their position on the bills being debated. Although participation is not dependent on military affiliation, a majority of the students are decedants of veterans. The last major activity is a Naturalization Ceremony. A special ceremony is held annually in coordination with the INS to welcome a class of new citizens and make their ceremony memorable.

Junior Girls: To promote values of Americanism, good citizenship and volunteerism in our younger members: Members under the age of 18 have special programs geared to their ages. An annual charity benefitting children is chosen by the girls and various fundraisers are held in order to support the selected charity. In addition the Casey Cares Foundation benefitting seriously ill children and their families is supported annually through donations of pajamas for hospitalized children as well as funds and gift cards for their other programs.

Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation (VA&R): Major activities include quarterly donations to support activities in 5 Veterans Administration Medical Centers (VAMC) in our service area; participation with recreation therapists in the Veterans Creative Arts Festival program by producing the Maryland Veterans Creative Arts program which gives approximately 50 local recovering veteran visual artists, performing artists, and writers a forum to display their artistic achievements and raises funds for an annual $5,000 donation to the National Festival. Presents annual Christmas Gift Shops at 3 VAMC's and the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home giving patients an opportunity to select gifts to give their family members in celebration of the holiday free of charge. Bingo nights, holiday parties, picnics and other activities are also held throughout the year.