Traveling 4,500 miles to present a medal has become the norm for a local military retiree. Col. Don Edmands Jr., U.S. Air Force (ret.), of American Legion Post 256 in Tellico Lake, has awarded medals to two Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) students at Bitburg High School, Germany.

The American Legion Scholastic Excellence Medal for scholastic and leadership excellence was presented to Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Denzyl Jackson, a sophomore calling Bitburg home. His father is Master Sergeant William Jackson (ret.). Receiving the American Legion Military Excellence Medal was Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Haley Medeiros of Sacramento, Calif. A junior, she was recognized for outstanding leadership, discipline, character and citizenship.

The students attend a Department of Defense high school for children of servicemembers. The Tellico Lake post chose to sponsor the Bitburg unit as a way of supporting our military personnel deployed overseas.

Photo Caption
(L-R) Cadet CMSgt Denzyl Jackson, Cadet CMSgt Hailey Medeiros and Col. Don Edmands Jr. during award ceremonies at Bitburg High School, Germany. Photo by Lt. Col. Raynor Buckley, U.S. Air Force (ret.)