The award recognizes American Legion Family members for promoting the organizations in six categories for print and online.
The American Legion is proud to announced the winners of the 2026 Media & Communications Contest. The annual contest recognizes the great work members of The American Legion, Sons of The American Legion, Legion Riders and Auxiliary do at the post, district and department level to positively promote and educate about the organizations in print and online.
There were 127 contest entries submitted for the six categories. The winners were selected by a panel of judges that included Media & Communications staff and Media & Communications Commission Chair Holly Lewis, and approved by the Media & Communications Commission on May 4 during Spring Meetings in Indianapolis.
2026 American Legion Media & Communications Contest Winners
Chairman’s Award: Timothy Engstrom and Jennifer Cole, Department of Minnesota
Frank Ward Innovation Award: Mark L. Nestor, Peter Favazza III and Paul Krueger, Post 3, Gloucester, Mass.
WEBSITES
Department/District: Timothy Engstrom and Jennifer Cole, American Legion Department of Minnesota (new version of mnlegion.org/)
Posts up to 249: John Kearins, Jack Kearins and Mike Heffron, American Legion Post 210, Doylestown, Pa. (doylestownpost210.org/)
Honorable Mention: Ruth Cordner, American Legion Post 419, Jersey City, N.J. (jerseycitypost419.com/)
Posts up to 250-749: John Miles, Michelle O'Dea and Pam Elliott, American Legion Post and Unit 163, North Platte, Neb. (americanlegionnp.org/)
Honorable Mention: Jennifer Cole, American Legion Post 36, Fairmont, Minn. (fairmontlegion.org/)
Honorable Mention: Nancy O'Brien, American Legion Post 59, Hillsboro, N.H. (post59nh.org/)
Posts over 750: Steve Hayes and George Sedlack, American Legion Post 209, Colorado Springs, Colo. (legion209.org/)
PUBLICATIONS
Department/District: Timothy Engstrom, American Legion Department of Minnesota (Minnesota Legionnaire example)
Honorable Mention: John Meyer Sr., Detachment of Arizona (Blue Cap News example)
Honorable Mention: Richard Cole, American Legion Department of Virginia (Virginia Legionnaire example)
Posts up to 249: American Legion Post 186, Seattle, Wash. (Cathay Post 186 digital newsletter example)
Honorable Mention: Christine Hummel, American Legion Post 404, Saint Louis, Mo. (The Feminaires example)
Posts up to 250-749: William Usry, American Legion Post 1, Tulsa, Okla. (Post 1 newsletter example)
Posts over 750: Richard Cole, American Legion Post 284, Colonial Heights, Va. (News and Views Post 284 example)
EDITORIAL/NEWS
Department/District: Burrell Parmer, American Legion District 20, Department of Texas (20th District Oratorical Contest held at St. Mary’s University School of Law, Legion Times, Pages 11-13)
Posts up to 249: Winston Boddie, Jane Doolittle, Diane Peterson and William Beaver, American Legion Post 30, Edgefield, S.C. (Post 30 visits with students in the classroom to teach patriotism during Children & Youth Month)
Honorable Mention: Russell Myers III, Squadron 105, Nutley, N.J. (Post 105 supports COTA on American Legion Family Day)
Posts up to 250-749: Burrell Parmer, American Legion Post 828, San Antonio, Texas (Fred Brock Post 828 honored at San Antonio NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner (Published in Legion Times, pages 20-21)
Posts over 750: No entries
VISUAL MEDIA
Department/District: Russell Myers III, Detachment of New Jersey (2025 Detachment Commander Keith Barnes video visit to Paramus Veterans Memorial Home to dedicate his project, an outdoor recreation area for the veteran residents of the facility.)
Posts up to 249: Dawn Moore, American Legion Post 94, Troy, Mo. (First season for Post 94 Legion Baseball team photo)
Honorable Mention: Kent Wong, American Legion Post 186, Seattle, Wash. (Chinatown Seafair Parade photo)
Posts up to 250-749: Richard Bean, Peter Favazza III and Paul Krueger, Post 3, Gloucester, Mass. (Video shows cosmetic updates to the outside of Post 3 with support from the city.)
Posts over 750: No entries
SOCIAL MEDIA
Department/District: Eric R. Luke, Department of Pennsylvania District 29, North East, Pa. (District 29 Facebook page has three priorities – communicate, educate and incorporate new ideas.)
Posts up to 249: Winston Boddie and Diane Peterson, American Legion Post and Unit 30, Edgefield, S.C. (Post 30 Facebook page promoted the monthly Community Cadence Fitness Walk initiative that Post 30 started in May 2025 to engage veterans with community members.)
Posts up to 250-749: Amanda Nieto, American Legion Post and Unit 184, Moore, Okla. (Post 184 used Facebook to promote its Be the One walk in October 2025)
Posts over 750: Kimberly Spirit, American Legion Post 618, Willis, Texas (Post 618 Facebook page strengthens community engagement while advancing the organization’s mission of supporting veterans, their families and the local community.)
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Department/District: Entries do not meet qualifications; submissions were in department newsletters not external media.
Posts up to 249: Bruce Camerer, Scott Kallberg and Larry Larson, Legion Riders Chapter 264, Glenville, Minn. (Albert Lea Tribune announce Legion Riders Chapter 264 leading Nations of Patriots Tour)
Honorable Mention: Clifton Morlan, American Legion Post 360, Indianapolis, Ind. (Schoolhouse 7 Café promotes University Post 360’s coffee with a veteran)
Posts up to 250-749: Steven Shaffer, American Legion Post 13, Tallahassee, Fla. (A century of service for Post 13)
Honorable Mention: John Miles and Joe Wiezorek, American Legion Post 163, North Platte, Neb. (North Platte Post features Post 163 Heroes March)
Posts over 750: Entries do not meet qualifications; submissions were in post newsletters not external media.
- Dispatch