Theresa has been a member since 2003. She is eligible for membership through her father LeRoy Hapner (Army WWII) and her stepfather John McWilliams (Army WWII, Air Force Korean War). She has held all the offices of the Unit, served as the District 7 Vice President, President, and DEC for several years. She served as the Department of Colorado Chaplain 2 years and vice President. She has been a committee chairman for Community Service, VA&R, and Legislative. She also is the representative for Bruce McCandless Colorado Veterans Community Living Center. She is retired from the Colorado Department of Corrections. I have two boys and 5 grandchildren (3 boys/2 girls).
President-Elect Bettina Kossow
Bettina has been a member since 2015. She is one of the founding members of Unit 2008 in Falcon, where she served as Vice President, President and Treasurer. She also served on District 7 as Vice President and President and on the Strategic Planning and Leadership Committees. She is eligible through her husband Chip Kossow, who is the current Department Commander. They have been married for 33 years and have 1 daughter, and 2 grandchildren.
Vice President Janelle Rodriguez-Mendelson
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.
Terry is a member a of Unit 23. She is a transplant New Yorker who previously worked for 18 years as an Executive Assistant at State University of NY. Her father is a WWII navy veteran and brother is an Army Vietnam veteran. In her spare time she likes creative arts, hiking and being a longtime wolf advocate.
Nancy D. has been a member of ALA since 2009 through her husband, Daniel Diefenderfer in the United States Army as a Paratrooper and Special Forces. She lives in the Mountains of Bellvue, Colorado and is a PUFL member. Currently she’s with Unit 1879 CSU Fort Collins Member. Nancy D. has been deeply committed to these officers/committee programs: She has served s unit President for 2 years, District 4: Current DEC, Past - President, Vice President, Chaplin, Sgt-At-Arms; Department: Sgt-At Arms, Legislative Chairmen, Membership Chairmen, Public Relations Chairmen, C&B Committee, Membership Committee, Leadership Chairmen, Poppy Chairmen.
Born and raised in Northwest Illinois Donna Rae moved to Colorado Springs in January 2016. She transferred her membership from Unit 12 - Sterling, IL to Unit 209 - Colorado Springs, CO at that time. She is a widow to Larry R. Smith - a Navy Vietnam Veteran who served in the Brown Water Navy. Her son served in the Navy during Enduring Freedom and her sister served in the Army curing the Gulf War. Her Fiancé is a Marine Corps Veteran - Osa Tuck.
Cathy is a Colorado Springs native and comes from a family of uncles and a brother that served. She also qualifies for the Auxiliary through her husband who served in the Army. She has been a member for the past five years. She originally joined the Auxiliary to be a member of the ALR. She then became involved with the unit working her way up to Unit President. She also services as the District 7 Vice President. She truly believes in "Service Not Self."
Since her first day as a member, nearly 25 years ago, Laurie has served the ALA. She has served at the unit, district, department, and national level. She has served on several department committees as well as an American Legion Baseball commissioner and High School Oratorical committee. Her daughter, Phylicia, served as Jr Honorary Dept President and her son, Teddy, has been serving as the Detachment Sgt-at-Arms since 2018.
