School Medals, 2008	Key to informational icons   External link   Email address   Telephone number   PDF document

The American Legion School Medal Award Program is designed to place emphasis on the development of the qualities of COURAGE, HONOR, LEADERSHIP, PATRIOTISM, SCHOLARSHIP and SERVICE. To help develop those ideals of Americanism among young people which will make them citizens of the highest caliber.To give recognition through the award of American Legion School Medals to the boy and to the girl who have demonstrated the highest qualities of citizenship and of true Americanism. Dowloadable documents 2008 Report   2008SchoolMedalsReport.pdf

This Year's Volunteers

31 schools participated in this year’s American Legion Post 137 School Medals awards program. 100% of the schools had either a Legionnaire or a Vet presenting the awards. The following Legionaires and Auxiliary members volunteered their time to present the School Medals:

A very special thanks to Ronald Bohler, and FCCJ employee who is also a veteran for presenting medals at one school.

Schools that Participated in 2008

Elementary Schools

Annie R. Morgan Elementary School
Bayview Elementary School
Biltmore Elementary School
Cedar Hills Elementary School
Central Riverside Elementary School
Chimney Lakes Elementary School
Crystal Springs Elementary School
Fishweir Elementary School
Gregory Drive Elementary School
Hyde Grove Elementary School
Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary School
Normandy Village Elementary School
Norwood Elementary Schools
Oak Hill Elementary School
Ortega Elementary School
Pickett Elementary School
Ramona Boulevard Elementary School
Reynolds Lane Elementary School
Ruth N. Upson Elementary School
Timucuan Elementary School
Stonewall Jackson Elementary School
Venetia Elementary School
West Jacksonville Elementary School
Whitehouse Elementary School

Middle Schools

Baldwin Middle-Senior High School
Jefferson Davis Middle School
Joseph Stilwell Middle School

High Schools

Edward H. White High School
Nathan B. Forrest High School
Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center
Paxon School/Advanced Studies

History of the School Medal

The American Legion School Award originated with posts in Pennsylvania and spread throughout the country. It began as an award each year to the outstanding boy graduating from the eighth grade of a local public school or the equivalent grade at a private school. The award was given on the five-point bases of Honor, Courage, Scholarship, Leadership and Service. Many American Legion Auxiliary units created a similar award for girls on the bases of Courage, Character, Service, Companionship and Scholarship. The awards became an officially recognized national activity in 1926, when 1,046 medals were distributed, and soon were being awarded to high school students.

The first medals available from The American Legion National Emblem Sales Catalog appeared in 1927. These medals were made in two different designs, one for boys and a similar medal, smaller in size and appropriately designed, for girls. In 1951 a new design was implemented for award to both boys and girls. In 1962 the qualifications for both boys and girls were made the same - Honor, Courage, Scholarship, Leadership and Service. The following year Patriotism was added to the other five qualifying attributes.

Today, the American Legion School Award Medal represents the educational symbolism of the School Medal Award Program and associates it with The American Legion and its purposes. The medal is applicable for award to either boys or girls in the graduating class of elementary, junior and senior high schools, and colleges. For better Citizenship and Americanism the official American Legion School Award medal is presented by Posts to a vast number of boys and girls in graduation classes of public and private schools. Recipients best represent outstanding qualities of character and ability. Award is based on Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship and Service, which if cultivated, result in better citizenship.

The Qualities to be Developed

Courage - Bravery in the face of opposition and danger; determination and force to do right without public applause and regardless of personal advantage: a quality of the intellect.

Honor - Highly-developed moral character; moral excellence; strength and stability of character; high standards of conduct; devotion to duty; adherence to truth; keen sense of what is right; practice of clean speech and thoughts.

Leadership - Ability to lead and to accomplish through group action; ability to work in harmony and in unison with other leaders in accomplishing group results; desire and ability to fill the voids in the lives of others caused by timidity, illness and other handicaps.

Patriotism - An ideal of loyal Americanism, religious tolerance, righteous freedom and the willingness to defend our Flag against all enemies - foreign and domestic.

Scholarship - Attainments in school studies; quality of school work reflecting the fine traits of industry; perseverance; efficiency and intelligence,

Service - Kindliness; unselfishness; fellowship; protection of the weak; promotion of the interests and the welfare of associates and constructive aid for the support of schools and community.

Awards

This medal is the highest honor awarded American youth by The American Legion. It is a medal that proclaims to the world that this boy or girl is the kind of young person we believe worthy of such an honor.

The recipients (one boy and one girl) are selected from the graduating class of elementary, junior high or middle schools, senior high schools and college. In schools where there are many graduates or where students are grouped (such as sixth grade centers or special interest schools), special arrangements may be made to cover the situation. This is up to the discretion of the Post Committee in conjunction with the school authorities.

Selecting the Recipient

The Post Commander will appoint a committee of not more than three members to contact local school authorities. Through them a basis of friendly cooperation with school officials should be established. In this way it will be possible to design and activate a smooth, coordinated program.

Arrangements between school and Post on how the recipients are to be selected should be made well in advance of the presentation date. The aforementioned character traits should be the basis of selection. The sole purpose of this program by The American Legion is the cultivation of high character and wholesome ideals in youth approaching active citizenship. No trace of politics, sectarianism or favoritism should be allowed to attach itself to the School Award Program.

The award should be presented by a member of The American Legion. However, all plans should be made with the cooperation and consent of school officials.

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