2024 national convention award recipients
During the 105th American Legion National Convention in New Orleans in August, awards were presented to individuals, companies, groups and Legion departments in meetings, on the convention floor and during competitions.
Distinguished Service Medal: Jack Miller
Patriot Award: Michael Rodriguez
James V. Day “Good Guy” Award: Jay Glazer
National Concert Band Contest: American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, Tonawanda, N.Y.
National Color Guard Contests:
Advancing/Retrieving Colors: Newport Harbor Post 293 (Newport Beach, Calif.), 92.35
Military: Newport Harbor, 92.5
Open: Jackie Robinson Unit 252 (Los Angeles), 85.35
NJROTC Open: West Caldwell High School NJROTC Warriors (Lenoir, N.C.), 101.0
Overall Champion: Newport Harbor
National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year: Cpl. Nicholas DeFelice, Owings, Md.
National Firefighter of the Year: Capt. Daniel Rawson, Delta Junction, Alaska
Broadcast: KARE 11 NBC (Minneapolis), “Broken Promises”
Print: Louisville (Ky.) Courier Journal, “Safer Sidelines”
Spirit of Service Awards:
Air Force Airman 1st Class Vernica Challenger
Army Sgt. Mayann Santiago
Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Galbierz
Marine Corps Sgt. Davinsky Theodore
Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jesyka Ware
Navy Petty Officer Pablo Rodriguez Jr.
Space Force Sgt. Christopher Paradine
National Recruiter of the Year: Patricia E. Liddell, Midland, Ga.
District Commander Race to the Top Award:
Milton R. Chatham (Texas) – Category 1, District 2
Stuart L. Scott (Florida) – Category 2, District 3
Gary S. Ely (Georgia) – Category 3, District 9
Murray S. Hall (Maryland) – Category 4, District 6
100% Department Awards: Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Latin America, Maryland, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia
Gen. Henri Gouraud Trophy: Category 1, Florida; Category 3, Maryland; Category 4, Virginia; Category 6, Puerto Rico
Department Commanders of the Year: Michael A. Raymond, Florida; Mark L. DeVirgilio, Hawaii; Douglas L. Huffman, Idaho; Peter P. Cruz, Latin America; Carmen I. Rosario, Puerto Rico; Betty Lynch, Rhode Island; Sondra Dickerson, Virginia
Culture of Growth Department Award: Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Latin America, Maryland, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia
Second Century All-Time High Department Award: Puerto Rico, Latin America
All Target Dates Department Award: Hawaii, Idaho, Latin America, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Virginia
Henry D. Lindsley Trophy: Puerto Rico
Jerry L. Hedrick Membership Award: Puerto Rico
O.L. Bodenhamer Trophy: Puerto Rico
Consolidated Post Reporting Department Award: Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Wisconsin
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Employee of the Year: Adam Colone, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Veterans Employment Awards:
Wolverine Services, Fort Cavazos, Texas, medium category
HumCap, Plano, Texas, small category
Outstanding Employment Service Local Office of the Year: Workforce Solutions of Central Texas
Outstanding Employer of Enhancing the Lives of Disabled Persons: Bobby Dodd Institute, Atlanta
100 Percent Americanism Award: Delaware
Daniel J. O’Connor Americanism Trophy: Ohio
Ralph T. O’Neil Trophy: Nevada
Frank N. Belgrano Jr. Trophy: Missouri
Child Welfare Foundation (CWF) Garland Murphy Award: Pennsylvania
CWF Udie Grant Legacy Award: Arizona
CWF Meritorious Achievement Award: Wyoming
CWF Excellence Award: Wyoming
CWF Garland Murphy Award – Riders: Florida
CWF Udie Grant Legacy Award – Riders: Arizona
William F. Lenker National Service Trophy: Florida
Educator of the Year Award: Chad Johnson, Jobs for American Graduates (JAG) coordinator, Lyman High School, Presho, S.D.