SAN ANTONIO – (May 22, 2023) – The American Legion is a strong supporter of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and ROTC programs across the country.

Fred Brock American Legion Post 828 annually presents Military Excellence and Scholastic Excellence Award medals to outstanding cadets from Sam Houston, Breckenridge and Highlands High Schools, all within the San Antonio Independent School District (ISD).

On April 26, Post Commander Burrell Parmer, joined by Executive Committeeman Placement 1 Marcellus Hutchinson and Tesha Leggett of Auxiliary Unit 828, attended Sam Houston High School’s JROTC Awards Ceremony presenting the Military Excellence Medal to Cadet Staff Sgt. Kiana Hampton and the Scholastic Medal to Cadet Maj. Danessia Williams.

Additional JROTC awards were presented at Brackenridge High School on May 13 to Cadets 1st Lt. Donovan Cepeda (Scholastic Excellence Medal), 1st Sgt. Shelby Flores and 1st Sgt. Jennifer Rodriguez-Montalvo (Military Leadership Excellence Medal). The awards ceremony for Highlands High School will be held on May 24.

In support of Texas Boys State and Texas Bluebonnet Girls State, the post and Auxiliary unit is sponsoring six boys and six girls for the weeklong programs. The boys will be traveling to the University of Texas-Austin and the girls will be at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin in June.

To prepare statesmen for Boys State, the “Mighty” 20th District held its Boys State orientation meeting at Alamo Post 2 on May 10.

The statesmen and their parents heard briefings from District Americanism Chair Eric Mayer (Business and Professional Post 10), Past 3rd Division and 20th District Commander Robert Masten (10) and Texas Boys State Counselor Jerry Cheatom (828). Additionally, they had the opportunity to hear from three 2022 Texas Boys State alums.

American Legion Boys State and Girls State are among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.

They are participatory programs where students become a part of the operation of their local, county and state government.

At American Legion Boys State and Girls State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges along with duties and responsibilities of a franchised citizen.