The American Legion Auxiliary is an organization with nearly 1 million women across the country, devoted to America’s veterans, young people and our local communities. The group is looking for women of all ages to join them in volunteering.

Mike Kessler, executive director of the national nonprofit youth education and service program for boys and girls, the Young Marines, announced a call-to-action campaign to more than 300 Young Marine units across the country to participate in the organization’s second “Raising Awareness to the Flag” initiative during national flag week in June.

Through a partnership between the Valley of the Sun YMCA and the Department of Defense (DOD), all 17 Valley of the Sun YMCA branches now offer qualifying members of the Armed Forces and their families access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs.

So many veterans feel confused about benefits and services they've earned. There's so much to know and so many changes from one year to the next. The non-profit Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is offering help on Thursday, June 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Christopher Meeker, a 2004 graduate of Desert Vista High Scool and son of Brian and Tamera Bidelspach of Ahwatukee, has graduated from Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia on April 29, 2011. Christopher was part of the Delta Company, 2nd Platoon, 2-19 Infantry Division. After graduation, Christopher has advanced into the Army Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, which is an extremely physical and mentally challenging eight week course held at Fort Benning, Georgia. The RASP program is designed to prepare soldiers, for assignment to the 75th Ranger Regiment.

ASU Gammage will host military family first nights on Friday, April 29 for more than 100 military family members. ASU Gammage will provide tickets to families of deployed military personnel to attend Broadway performances to three shows this season. Working with the Arizona National Guard Family Readiness Program, family members of deployed and soon to be deployed Arizona National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from around the state will have the opportunity to see "Billy Elliot the Musical" and have the chance to enjoy an exclusive post show meet and greet with the cast.

Over the last five years, 1.6 million military service members have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. CAMP HOPE is a new fundraising campaign by Easter Seals and Epsilon Sigma Alpha International to provide camping opportunities for children of military families. A $600 contribution to CAMP HOPE will provide a week-long camping experience for these kids, allowing them to be kids again and also the opportunity to share their experiences with children of other service members. Any and all donations will provide services to support families learning to live with a service member facing newly acquired disabilities.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense agency, announced a significant increase in the number of Guard and Reserve members who nominated their employers for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the Department's highest recognition given to employers for support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. Over the 12-week nomination period that ended in January, 4,049 nominations poured in for a 64 percent increase over last year's total.

Anthony Ameen, a local Veteran and 2000 Desert Vista high school graduate, spoke to the Rotary Club of Ahwatukee Foothills in December at the Grace Inn. Color Guard members from Post 64 of the American Legion were also in attendance.

Air Force Airman 1st Class James P. McHenry graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Lieutenant Damien Ludwig, a graduate of Mountain Pointe High School and ASU is cited for superior performance of duty on Aug. 23 while serving as Decontamination Unit Leader for Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill response in Mobile, Alabama area. Thrust into the midst of a chaotic hazardous material release, Lieutenant Ludwig demonstrated exceptional judgment during the potential anhydrous ammonia leak in close proximity to the DWH Theodore, Alabama decontamination site. He evacuated his team to a safe area which included 700 individuals trying to escape the dangers of the fumes. Lt. Ludwig set up a triage for those exposed to the fumes before the arrival of emergency services, including facilitating transportation of a civilian to the hospital who was in extremely critical condition. With the Lieutenants quick response, he was able to help save the civilian's life. He continued to direct other on scene Coast Guard personnel to provide clear access routes for responding emergency vehicles and assisted in the marshalling of numerous fire, police and rescue personnel to the scene. His leadership and courageous actions directly contributed to the evacuation of over 700 individuals including 150 injured people being transported to hospitals without a single loss of life. Lt. Ludwig's diligence, perseverance and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Coast Guard.

Army National Guard Pvt. Alexander J. Matejcik has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia.

The Home Sweet Home Campaign's new program, TShirts 4 Soldiers, is helping people connect with their deployed loved ones. This unique and fun way to send a piece of your heart and home to a service member you love is making a big splash in the military world. Spouses, children, mothers and more are designing one-of-a-kind T-shirts and having them shipped directly to their loved one. In turn, service members are sending T-shirts they have designed back home to their family and friends.

Air Force Airman Camille L. Valenzuela graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

South Mountain Community College invites all US military service members, veterans and their families to "Boots-2-Books", a college preview on Thursday, Dec. 2. It is scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at SMCC Student Union and is located at 7050 S. 24th St. in Phoenix. This is a free three hour orientation to assist them in the transition from military life to higher education. It will provide and overview of college support services designed especially with military, veterans and families in mind. For more information contact Christopher Erran at (602) 305-5607 or christopher.erran@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

The children at the Ahwatukee Preschool wanted to honor Veterans this week. They handmade 100 flags using different paint media. The flags will be on display at the Ahwatukee Preschool and Mountain View Lutheran Church located at 11002 S. 48th Street.

The inaugural Soldier Scramble will take place on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, at Palmbrook Country Club at 9350 W. Greenway Road in Sun City to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College in partnership with the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services will host the second Veterans' Resource Expo on Thurs., November 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Pecos campus Student Center Pavilion. The Expo will provide veterans with information about military benefits, career and educational opportunities, and community veteran resources. CGCC is located at 2626 E. Pecos Road in Chandler.

Master Sergeant Steve Soha heads up the Wounded Warrior Regiment that includes Arizona and West Texas to help wounded and injured Marines after they return home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veterans will be able to interview with an all-star team of national, regional and local employers at the RecruitMilitary Opportunity Expo, set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at University of Phoenix Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale.

GCC designated a Military Friendly School

Seven Arizona museums will offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2010, according to an announcement by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Blue Star Families, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services.