Newport Harbor Post 291 named color guard contest champions

On Friday, Aug. 25, four color guard units from across the country competed in the National Color Guard Contests at the 104th American Legion National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. This year, in a new category, three NJROTC units from North Carolina high schools also competed. 

Past National Commander Bill Oxford, a North Carolina native, stood in for National Commander Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola at the awards ceremony. “There are no losers – you’re all winners,” he stated. The categories and final scores, in ascending order:

Advancing and Retiring Colors:

75.55 – Lynchburg Post 16, Lynchburg, Va.

85.35 – Dorie Miller Post 331, Orlando

89.75 – Harrisburg Post 472, Houston

94.6 – Newport Harbor Post 291, Newport Beach, Calif. (winner)

Military:

86.7 – Harrisburg

90.6 – Newport Harbor (winner)

Military Open:

82.05 – Dorie Miller

NJROTC Open (with associated American Legion post):

88.5 – Western Alamance HS, Haw River (Post 427)

96.75 – McDowell HS, Marion (Post 56)

98.75 – West Caldwell HS, Lenoir (Post 29) (winner)

Newport Harbor repeated as national champion, which earns them the right to serve as the national commander’s color guard at the 105th National Convention in 2024 in New Orleans.