Legion's national judge advocate honored
American Legion National Judge Advocate Philip B. Onderdonk receives an award in his honor from Liberty Institute President and CEO Kelly Shackelford during the 97th National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Clay Lomneth

Legion's national judge advocate honored

Amid the hustle and bustle during The American Legion national convention on Sept. 2, National Judge Advocate Philip B. Onderdonk Jr. received a surprise.

Liberty Institute President and CEO Kelly Shackelford stood behind the convention floor podium to update Legion members on the work Liberty Institute is performing with stakeholders and advocates in communities across America, when he surprisingly announced the creation of an award named in Onderdonk's honor for his efforts championing for religious freedoms.

“This award is for those that have given sacrifice and had success in defending what our founders called our first freedom – religious freedom,” Shackelford said.

As he accepted the 2015 Philip B. Onderdonk Award, Onderdonk was at a loss for words as his facial expression quickly shifted to a look of utter surprise. Before he accepted the award, Onderdonk learned that the award will be presented to a deserving individual during the general session of every American Legion national convention from this point forward.

“(Onderdonk) has been instrumental in leadership and what the American Legion has done in standing to defend attacks against veterans memorials across our country. He has been the leader of the nationwide movement to stand and say, ‘No, you’re not taking down this veterans memorial. No, you’re not ending the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.’”

Along with The American Legion, the Liberty Institute will continue to campaign to save veteran's memorials that are under attack and in jeopardy of being torn down like the Mt. Soledad Memorial in California and the Bladensburg Peace Cross War Memorial, Shackelford said.

Shackelford also noted how instrumental Onderdonk’s service has been out in communities like La Jolla, Calif., where veterans and organizations won a monumental decision against groups who called for the Mt. Soledad Memorial to be torn down.

Still reeling from the award presentation, Onderdonk thanked Liberty Institute for the award.