Online exhibit tells history of American Legion School Award

Post program established in 1922 continues today.

The Emil A. Blackmore Museum of The American Legion has published a new online exhibit exploring the history of the American Legion School Award, among the earliest Americanism programs to be adopted nationally. It has continued to be a recognizable feature of the Legion’s commitment to youth.

The exhibit examines how the design of the award reflected the purpose of the program: to encourage good character and responsible citizenship in America’s young people. Designed by leading sculptors across generations, the School Award medals embodied the values of citizenship and Americanism the Legion encourages in students.

Visitors to the online exhibit can learn about the origins and development of the award, see the different versions of the medal design, learn about the sculptors and browse through documents related to the program. View the exhibit for the School Award here, or visit the museum’s website at legionmuseum.omeka.net, which features additional online exhibits about the history of The American Legion such as “The Sons of The American Legion” and “World War Posters.”