BROOMALL–The American Legion School Award is the highest honor awarded to American youth by The American Legion. According to the American Legion, it is a medal that proclaims to the world these are the kinds of boys and girls that Legionnaires, comrades of men and women who gave their lives in battle, believe worthy of such honor. It is the Legionnaires' desire that wherever these boys and girls may go, and whatever they do, they will always be guided by the highest ideals.

Each year at this time, Legionnaires throughout America present school awards. Post Commander Jerry Sweeley and officers of the American Legion, Marple Memorial Post 805 of Broomall, concluded their annual presentation of school awards on Friday, June 15.

The officers presented the American Legion school awards to 16 students. Twelve students came from six of the local Marple Newtown School District public schools and four students were from the two local parochial schools.

This year, the prestigious American Legion School Award “The Certificate of Distinguished Achievement” and its accompanying medal were awarded to:

Marple Newtown High School

Scott Wiercinski and Leighann Robinson

Paxon Hollow Middle School

Robert Kauffman and Hannah Hartner

Culbertson Elementary School

Patrick Adams and Eva Louise Fay

Loomis Elementary School

Ryan Riddell and Rebecca Ritchie

Russell Elementary School

Utheri Wagura and Gloria Zacharias

Worrall Elementary School

Alden Mathes and Alexandra Hammonds

St. Anastasia School

Robert DiCicco and Megan MacNeal

St. Pius X School

Sean Noonan and Christine Donohue


The awards were presented by officers from Marple Memorial Post 805 and signed by Jerry Sweeley, commander, and Lawrence Snyder, adjutant.

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s organization. There are over 2.5 million members in 14,000 Posts worldwide. Legionnaires are dedicated to the service of God and Country. They cherish four great principles: justice, freedom, democracy, and loyalty. They are pledged to serve the disabled, the distressed, the widowed, and the orphaned. They are devoted to the cause of service to the community, state, and nation.

This press release was issued by Marple Memorial Post 805. For more information about the post, visit their website at www.legionpost805.org.