Bob and I are upset. We never knew that the American Legion gave out such a fantastic and impressive bronze medal to students for their scholastic achievements and also to those who demonstrated strong qualities of character and good citizenship.

Where did we go wrong? Or did the Legion just pass us by by mistake?

The American Legion started this School Award Medal Program in 1926.

The award is given to a boy and a girl in the graduating classes of elementary school, junior and senior high school, and college. Those who receive a medal must exemplify six qualities that define character: courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service. (Oops, I see where we may have missed a few of these requirements.)

Candidates for the award are voted upon by a school's faculty and members of the candidates graduating class through a secret ballot casting. The local Legion post involved with the school makes the final selection upon receiving recommendation from students and faculty. Each awardee receives a certificate and a medal with the six qualities listed on the face of the medal.

We love the back of the medal with its awesome American bald Eagle. It has the American Legion emblem in the center and the motto FOR GOD AND COUNTRY at the bottom.

Medal measures 2 1/2 inches. It's almost 1/4 inch thick and weighs 117.8 grams (hefty!). Along the edge, this is marked...MEDALLIC ART CO. BRONZE PAT. NO. D-162,975.

This is in excellent vintage condition.

Free U.S. shipping on all our items.
Click on FAVORITE SHOP and be the first to see our newest listings.