Anita L. Mennel, Department President 2026-2027
New Beginings
Thank you for your confidence in electing me your Department President for the 2026-2027 administrative year. I am humbled!
As a proud granddaughter, daughter and sister of veterans, my pledge is to keep working together as we continue our mission of service to our veterans, military families, children and youth. I look forward to serving you all.
Some of you may recall hearing this when I was Chaplain, but I repeat it now: “There are many kinds of LOVE… The love of family, love of spouse and children, love of friends, I Love your outfit – Well, I love you all and there ain’t nothing you can do about it.” This year, love will take on a little different twist.
L.O.V.E. stands for: Loyal hearts to be open-minded and value those around us, empowering members to carry forward our mission into the next 250 years.
We heard at Convention of the amazing work we have done this past year. Our focus next year will be to continue to work our mission. One of my first actions was to appoint a team of members with a passion for their program choice. Another is improving communication and education opportunities. We are working on a plan for regular Microsoft Teams (Zoom-type) meetings for unit program chairs, hosted by department chairs and attended by district chairs (and all who wish). We are preparing a “September Zoom” – a roll out of V.A. & R, Membership, and Americanism, our most time-sensitive programs. They will be held prior to our November Fall Conference to continue educating our membership. This will also allow more time at the Tree Tops Resort in Grayling to share information about all of our amazing programs. Watch our website for more information.
I believe one of the best ways we can support a larger number of Michigan service members, our Veterans and their families, is through broader outreach. I have chosen as the 2026-2027 Department special project “THE MICHIGAN AMERICAN LEGION FOUNDATION-VSO ENDOWMENT FUND”. Our support will help outreach from within, which is just as necessary as working with organizations outside of our family. Plan to attend November 6 through 8, 2026 and learn more about that at our Fall Conference.
A quick shout out to District 7 members, and my Unit #16 – thank you for your confidence in me and your ongoing support and encouragement. A Special thanks to the co-coordinators of that awesome Meet & Greet, Anna Lossing and Marie Gomez, my Unit President, Pam Wagner and the rest of the ALF (American Legion Family). If you attended the Department of Michigan Convention last month, you probably received one of my pins. The heart shape is for feelings. The purple sparkle background is a nod to my mom (a U.S. Cadet Nurse during WWII), and it’s the color of all of our service branches together. L.O.V.E. I explained above, the 250 and the red, white, and blue border are for our country, and the polar bear, well, I just like polar bears-and, yet they can be ferocious – like us as we work our mission.
As we embark on another administrative year of our ALA, I encourage each of you to remember the pledge you just repeated. Walk that walk, not just talk it – and remember L.O.V.E.! For God and Country! Bears-and, yet they can be ferocious – like us as we work our mission.