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

Fourth Estate Awards:

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.