Our veterans, military, and their families come first. That’s our mission. When we lose one of those people, it is heartbreaking. 
 
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alex Gleason-Morrow lost her life while performing maintenance duties in support of Operation Inherent Resolve assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing in Jordan in March 2017. She left behind her husband and two daughters, as well as many family members and friends.
 
Livingston County American Legion Auxiliary in New York is working to continue Gleason-Morrow’s legacy through a memorial scholarship, as well as helping other veterans get a service dog.
 
“Alex was loved by all who had the privilege to meet and get to know her,” said New York Livingston County President Deb Herrmann and Gleason-Morrow’s grandmother.
 
Gleason-Morrow was an ALA member since birth, an active Junior member for years, and became a dual member of The American Legion Family at 17 when she joined the Air Force.
 
Following her tragic death, and to help keep Gleason-Morrow’s name remembered, the New York Livingston County American Legion Auxiliary Memorial Scholarship in her honor began.
 
“Alex was an excellent student and had a love of learning everything and anything she could, so it was only fitting we used the scholarship as a way to remember her,” Herrmann said. “After some discussion, the members present voted to start one for Livingston County students. A committee was formed, and our first fundraiser was in 2018 when we did a dinner and basket raffle. Since then, we hold an annual Memorial Ride with a dinner after the run.”
 
The first $1,000 scholarship was awarded in 2019. 
 
“Alex’s mother and I went to the school awards ceremony to present our first scholarship to a young lady whose name also happened to be Alexandria, and it was very emotional for both of us, but also gave us great pleasure to know we were helping someone to further their education,” Herrmann said. 
 
The memorial committee has awarded $15,000 in scholarships since its inception.           
 
“It wasn’t until this year that we actually sat down to add up everything we have given in scholarships since 2019, and we were blown away,” Herrmann said. 
 
Members of the Livingston County American Legion Family decided to expand the scholarship by raising funds for service dogs for veterans in Gleason-Morrow’s honor. Currently, they are working with Pawsitive for Heroes, a 501(c)(3) organization that trains service dogs for a veteran’s individual needs and purpose. They name their service dogs after a fallen hero, and the family felt honored when they named one of the training service dogs after Gleason-Morrow.
 
“In 2023, we had the pleasure to meet Alex and the veteran who was to have him,” Herrmann said. 
 
Earlier this year, the Staff Sgt. Alex Gleason-Morrow Memorial Committee presented Pawsitive for Heroes with a check for $15,000 that will be used for Western New York veterans and service dogs. The goal is to present a total of $30,000 in 2025 to help other veterans get their well-deserved service dog. 
 
For fellow units and American Legion Family members who want unique ways to honor our fallen, Herrmann offers advice. 
 
“It takes a team effort with dedicated individuals to make something like what we have accomplished happen,” she said. “Each of us is coming to the table with different talents but always with the same goal, which is to always have Staff Sgt. Alex’s name and all that she accomplished remembered.”