Harrisburg Post 472’s Color Guard salutes the colors alongside saluting officer, Army Master Sgt. Keyon Boens in the Color Guard Contest on Friday afternoon. Photo by Hilary Ott /The American Legion
Three posts contribute to spirited Color Guard Contests.
Representatives from three American Legion posts across the country gathered at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee on Aug. 26 for the annual Color Guard Contest to kick off the 103rd National Convention. Competing in three different categories, they were:
Newport Harbor Post 291 of Newport Beach, Calif.;
Harrisburg Post 472 of Houston;
and Post (and Squadron) 260 of South Hadley, Mass.
Each year’s contest features a “saluting officer,” an area active-duty servicemember who provides a live focus for the competing squads. This year’s saluting officer was Army Master Sgt. Keyon Boens, a 20-plus-year veteran who is also senior military instructor of the Army ROTC at nearby Marquette University … and a new Legionnaire. He stated of his presence, “We always support The American Legion,” and found the competition “extremely nice.”
Roger Mathison, contest announcer and National Convention Commission member, called attention before the awards ceremony to the squads’ “… giving their practice, their time, to develop their craft,” which involves precision marching, flag-carrying and sometimes amazing displays of equipment. National Commander Paul E. Dillard added of the work that goes into the performances, “nothing comes easy – just like freedom doesn’t come easy.”
The scores by category:
Advancing/Retrieving Colors:
Newport Harbor, 93.20
Harrisburg, 90.05
South Hadley, 87.35
Military:
Newport Harbor, 92.85
South Hadley, 83.10
Open:
Harrisburg, 88.15
South Hadley Squadron, 81.15
Newport Harbor repeated as overall champion and color guard for the 2023 convention in Charlotte.
Newport Harbor American Legion Post 291 of Newport Beach, Calif., competes in the Color Guard Contest during The American Legion 103rd National Convention. Photo by Hilary Ott/The American Legion
The Harrisburg Post 472 Color Guard salutes the colors with saluting officer, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Keyon Boens in Color Guard Contest during The American Legion 103rd National Convention. Photo by Hilary Ott/The American Legion
Harrisburg Post 472 of Houston requests permission to post the colors Color Guard Contest during The American Legion 103rd National Convention. Photo by Hilary Ott/The American Legion
Members of the Color Guard from Squadron 260 of South Hadley, Mass. and Harrisburg Post 472 of Houston congratulate each other after the Color Guard Contest during The American Legion 103rd National Convention. Photo by Hilary Ott/The American Legion
American Legion Color Guard units await as the judges finish tallying final scores of the Color Guard Contest during The American Legion 103rd National Convention. Photo by Hilary Ott/The American Legion
The American Legion National Commander Paul Dillard congratulates the Color Guard units during the award ceremony of the Color Guard Contest during The American Legion 103rd National Convention. Photo by Hilary Ott/The American Legion.
Army Master Sgt. Keyon Boens is recognized by American Legion National Commander Paul Dillard at the Color Guard Contest award ceremony during The American Legion 103rd National Convention. Photo by Hilary Ott/The American Legion
