SAN ANTONIO – (May 21, 2025) – The American Legion is a strong supporter of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and ROTC programs across the country.

Fred Brock American Legion Post 828 annually presents Military Excellence and Scholastic Excellence Award medals to outstanding cadets from Sam Houston, Breckenridge and Highlands high schools, all within the San Antonio Independent School District (ISD).

On May 1, Post Commander Burrell Parmer, joined by 1st Vice Commander Amanda Parham and San Antonio Auxiliary Unit 828 member Tesha Parmer, attended Sam Houston High School’s JROTC Awards Ceremony, presenting the Military Excellence Medal to Cadet Kalijah Henderson and the Scholastic Excellence Medal to Cadet Jennifer Monzon-Chun.

On May 8, Assistant Sgt.-at-Arms Billy Hill presented the Scholastic Excellence Medal to Cadet Pfc. Mariana Carranco and the Military Excellence Medal to Cadet Cpl. Noah Martinez.at Highlands High School.

On May 16, Parmer and Parham awarded the Military Excellence Medal to Cadet Darinka Salazar and the Scholastic Excellence Medal to Cadet Honey Uriegas during G.W. Breckenridge High School’s JROTC Awards Ceremony.

In support of Texas Boys State and Texas Bluebonnet Girls State, the Post and Auxiliary Unit 828 is sponsoring 12 boys and eight girls for the weeklong programs.

The young men will be traveling to the University of Texas at Austin, and the girls will be at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin in June.

To prepare statesmen for Boys State, the “Mighty” 20th District held its Boys State Orientation at Alamo Post 2 May 14.
More than 100 statesmen, joined by their parents, attended the orientation hearing remarks from District Americanism Michael Knott of Post 2, and for the second time the orientation was conducted by Texas Boys State alums.

On May 18, the District Reception and Orientation for Bluebonnet Girls State was held at the City of Converse Senior Community Center.

American Legion Boys State and Girls State are among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.

They are participatory programs where students become a part of the operation of their local, county, and state government. At American Legion Boys State and Girls State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges along with duties and responsibilities of a franchised citizen.