Gold Brigaders recruit 9,239 new members

Gold Brigaders recruit 9,239 new members

More than 9,200 new American Legion members were recruited during the 2015 membership year by 127 Legionnaires who earned the Gold Brigade Award for their exceptional recruiting efforts. Legionnaires who recruit 50 or more new members (not counting transfer members) into The American Legion by the May target date qualify for enrollment in The American Legion’s elite Gold Brigade.

Click here to see a list of the Gold Brigade Award recipients and the number of times they have earned the recognition.

The 2015 National Recruiter of the Year was awarded to Edgar J. Johnson of Columbus, Ga., for the second consecutive year. Johnson, an eight-time Gold Brigader and a member of Post 333, recruited 725 new members into the Legion; one more than last year.

The Gold Brigade recipients will be awarded unique gifts that designate affiliation with the Gold Brigade of The American Legion. First-time Gold Brigade members will receive a Gold Brigade patch, a special Gold Brigade cap pin, a Gold Brigade certificate, and a designer jacket, polo shirt or sweater with a Gold Brigade logo. Second time/repeat Gold Brigaders will receive a Gold Brigade patch and certificate, a hash mark for a jacket sleeve, and a designer jacket, polo shirt or sweater with a Gold Brigade logo. A Gold Brigader who has won the award for five consecutive years is eligible for a distinctive Gold Brigade blazer. A Legionnaire may only qualify once every five years. And a Gold Brigader who has earned the award for at least six consecutive years or more is eligible for a $150 check and a Legion cap with the inscription "Master Recruiter."

The American Legion also awarded eight Legionnaires with the Silver Brigade Award. Legionnaires who recruits 25-49 new members into The American Legion by the May target date qualify for this award. A silver pin and certificate will be awarded. In total, the 2015 Silver Brigade recipients recruited 293 new members.