The American Legion’s Color Guard Contest held during its 107th National Convention saw repeat winners in several categories, including overall champions from Post 347 in Lady Lake.
American Legion Post 347 in Lady Lake, Fla., was named the overall champion of the 2026 National Color Guard Contest held during the 107th American Legion National Convention in Louisville, Ky. The post retained its color guard championship title from 2025 to again serve as the National Commander’s Color Guard at the 2027 national convention in Kansas City, Mo., by scoring the highest average in Advancing/Retiring Colors and Military Class.
“It brings us a lot of pride for the post, as well as each member here,” said Robert Roybal, a member of Post 347’s color guard and the honor guard commander. “Because we practice very hard, we spend a lot of time doing this to the point where we feel that we’re at least comfortable competing with some really good people that are really top notch at what they do too. So we’re proud to be able to represent our Legion and do the best that we can.”
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Six American Legion Color Guard units competed in the Color Guard Contest at The American Legion 107th National Convention in Louisville, Ky. Photos by Owen J. Bagwell
Six American Legion color guard units competed in the Color Guard Contest on Friday, Aug. 28, that saw several repeat winners.
Sons of The American Legion Squadron 29 color guard in Lenoir, N.C., won in the Open Class category for the second consecutive year. Members of the color guard are sophomores and juniors from both West and South Caldwell High School. The students said they have been practicing three times a week for the past three months in preparation for the Legion’s color guard contest.
“It feels really good,” to be repeat winners said Avarie Pena of the Squadron 29 color guard. “It’s really exhilarating knowing that we can keep coming back here, and we can continue to win, and we can do what we love.”
The all-female Jackie Robinson Auxiliary Unit 252 color guard from Los Angeles, Calif., retained its 2025 winning title in the Military Open category. The unit has presented colors for the Los Angeles Rams, Dodgers and Clippers.
American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley presented the awards to the winning color guard units. He shared the pride that filled him when the national anthem was played prior to the award ceremony and “to watch the six of you and how sharp you look, how good you look carrying the colors of our nation. Thank you for competing in this competiton. You all are winners, and you all can be very proud of what you’ve done here today.”
Following are the overall scores and winners in each category
Advancing/Retiring of Colors
92.07 – Post 347, Lady Lake, Fla.
90.06 – Post 60, Laurel, Md.
87.25 – Unit 252, Los Angeles, Calif.
86.08 – Post 57, Lake City, Fla.
84.15 – Post 16, Lynchburg, Va.
Military Class
88.01 – Post 16, Lynchburg, Va.
87.02 – Post 57, Lake City, Fla.
82.0 – Post 347, Lady Lake, Fla.
Military Open
88.04 – Unit 252, Los Angeles, Calif.
84.05 – Post 16, Lynchburg, Va.
Open Class
93.35—Squadron 29, Lenoir, N.C.
86.45 – Post 60, Laurel, Md.
85.06 – Post 16, Lynchburg, Va.
84.95 – Unit 252, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Convention