Janelle has been a member of Unit 103, Littleton, CO since 2009 and is eligible through her paternal great grandfather, Ernest Peterson, WWI and her husband, Joel Mendelson, Vietnam. She has served at the Unit, District, and State levels for various officer and committee positions – near and dear to her heart is the American Legion Oratorical Program, she is beginning her 9th year on this committee. She is blessed to have her son, Zachary Lewis, also living in the Metro Denver area.
Casey is a member of Unit 161, Arvada, CO. She has been a member since 2000. Her maternal grandfather James "Jay" Messer, U.S. Army Korean Conflict/War veteran is who she is eligible through. Casey is also a life member of the VFW.
Shelley is a charter member of ALA Unit 26, Eaton CO joining in September 2019. She has served as a unit president, district vice-president, district president and department membership chair for two years. She is eligible through her husband, Rick McLatchie. Shelley loves to crochet and scrapbook and spend time with friends and family.
Terry is an active member a of Unit 23. She is originally from New York and previously worked for 18 years as an Executive Assistant at State University of NY. She is eligible for membership through her father is a WWII navy veteran and brother an Army Vietnam veteran. In her spare time she likes creative arts, hiking, bowling, and being a longtime wolf advocate.
Deb has been a member of Unit 1, Denver, CO since 2016 and is eligible through herself. She has served at the Unit, and District levels for various officer and committee positions – near and dear to her heart is the American Legion Girls State Program, she is beginning her 5th year; second year as a counselor. She is also a member of the only all women American Legion post in Colorado since 2014. And serves as Commander this year.
Ashley has been a member of Unit 113, Alamosa, since 2022 and is eligible through her husband, Christopher Flores, Operation Iraqi Freedom in the US Army. She has served at the Unit and District level in various officer positions. Ashley is enrolled at Grand Canyon University to obtain her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Ashley is blessed to have her two beautiful daughters Samantha & Charlotte . She believes deeply in service, not self.
Cat has been an Auxiliary member of Unit 22, Northglenn CO since 2016 and is eligible through her husband, George Apodaca Vietnam, her Father Albert Angel, WW11 and Grandfather WW1. She has served in many position and committees Unit, District and Department level. She has two children and 4 grandchildren, all a part of The American Legion Family. This year is Chair of Children and Youth.
Since her first day as a member, more than 27 years ago, Laurie has served the ALA. She has served at the unit, district, department, and national level. She was the Department President from 2018-2019 and has served on several department committees as well as an American Legion Baseball commissioner and High School Oratorical committee. Her daughter, Phylicia, was the Jr. Honorary Dept President and her son, Teddy, has been the SAL Detachment Sgt-at-Arms since 2018.
Bettina is a founding member of Unit 2008, Falcon, CO and has been an Auxiliary member since 2015. She is eligible through her husband of 35 years, PDP Chip Kossow, who served 20 years in the United States Army. She has served at the Unit, District, and State level in various officer and committee positions and for the 2023-2024 year is serving as the National Northwestern Division National Security Chair. She has one daughter Crystal, a son-in-law Michael who is a Firefighter, and two grandchildren, all of them are members of the Auxiliary and SAL.
Judy Sadler has been a member since 2018 and is currently a member Leyden-Chiles-Wickersham Unit #1 Denver, CO. She is eligible for membership through her father Sergeant Major Wesley Freeman, who served during WWII, Army, in the Philippines under General McArthur. She is also eligible through her son, Duane Topping. Duane served in the Army and was medically retired in 2012 after 3 tours in Iraq. Duane received a variety of medals and honors as a 1st Sargent in the Army during his 15 years of service.
