Kennesaw Mountain High School is Scene of Presentation of The American Legion School Award

Tuesday morning, May 20, 2008, was a special presentation of The American Legion School Award to deserving high school senior Kimber Shealy. About 30 Kennesaw Mountain High School juniors crowded in one of the Counselor's rooms and to see the presentation of the award to Kimber by Post 304 Adjutant David Burdette.

This prestigious award is presented to a high school graduating senior and is based on those attributes of Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship and Service. The selection of the deserving student is made by the school staff and consists of a 2.5" Medallion with a dispay easel and a Certificate.

Here, Adjutant Burdette provides a little background history of The American Legion and The American Legion School Award to the group as his wife, Nancy, looks on.

He announces that senior Kimber Shealy, who had competed in Post 304's National High School Oratorical Contest the past two years, is the recipient for 2007-2008. Kimber holds the Georgia State Pole Vault record (12"5") and has a full athletic scholarship to the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO.

Burdette and Kimber Shealy, with the Award Certificate and Bronze Medallion.

Kennesaw Mountain High School

Conducts Annual JROTC

Awards Ceremony

Tuesday evening, May 13, 2008, was an eventful evening for the JROTC cadets, their parents and friends. The annual Awards Night saw most of the KMHS Navy cadets receive recognition for their past years' accomplishments - and there was much to be proud of.

The Color Guard opened the evening's ceremony.

Here's part of the head table. The lady at left represented The Daughters of the American Revolution, next is the representative of The Sons of the American Revolution and then there is our own Post 304 Commander Larry Lieber, and ROTC Awards Chairman Larry Hale.

The ceremony was opened by Cadet LCDR Sam Ponce, the Unit's Cadet Commander.

He was followed by the JROTC Commander, CAPT Sean King.

Larry, Larry and CAPT King. Larry Hale commented on The American Legion JROTC Awards for Scholastic Excellence and Military Excellence.

And the Award (including ribbons and certificate) for Scholastic Excellence was presented to:

Cadet Ensign Katie Jones

The Award for Military Excellence was presented to:

Cadet LCDR Sam Ponce

The Program was concluded with the Change of Command Ceremony. The new cadet officers for next school year, 2008-2009, are in the front row, l-r, Operations Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. Standing behind them are the their 2007-2008 counterparts.

North Cobb High School

Honors Night

NorthStar Church

May 6, 2008

Awards (or Honors) Night at the local, Cobb County High Schools is a very special event for most of us old-timers. It gives the adult attendees a fresh, new perspective of the youth of this great country and, academically, this great county. Awards night honors (usually) some 200 students for being the best and the brightest. Tuesday night, May 6 was no exception.

One of the most prestigious awards given at the ceremony was the annual American Legion School Award, which is presented to a high school graduating senior and is based on those attributes of Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship and Service. The selection of the deserving student is made by the school staff and consists of a 2.5" Medallion with a dispay easel and a Certificate. Post 304 was well represented at the event by Sr. Vice Commander Alan Johnson, Finance Officer Tom Stenzel (whose son was being presented with an award), Jr. Vice Commander Fred Gaines, Sgt.-at-Arms Larry Hale and Adjutant David Burdette.

The NCHS JROTC Color Guard opened the ceremony by displaying the colors.

Principal Assistant Benji Morrell anxiously awaits the opening remarks by Principal Gary Boling and for the ceremony to get underway.

Sr. Vice Commander Johnson awaits his turn to present The American Legion School Award.

Johnson relates to the crowd The American Legion Four-Pillar legacy and the purpose of The American Legion School Award.

And here, he presents the Award to the 2008 North Cobb recipient:

Donald Gentry

Gentry is a senior JROTC Cadet and has committed to the Army National Guard. He will be training this summer at Ft. Sill and will await deployment later in the year. Our hats are off and best wishes go to Cadet Gentry.

Kell High School

Honors Night

April 28, 2008

Kell High School was the setting on Monday evening, April 28, 2008, for the annual Honors Night for awarding students honors for exemplary performance during the 2007-2008 school year. North Cobb Post 304 was there to present the annual American Legion School Award. The Award is presented to a high school graduating senior and is based on those attributes of Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship and Service. The selection of the deserving student is made by the school staff and consists of a 2.5" Medallion with a dispay easel and a Certificate.

The Kell High School JROTC Color Guard honors the colors.

Post 304 Commander Larry Lieber briefs the audience on The American Legion School Award.

The recipient of The School Award is Alisha Nunez, Kell High School senior.

The beaming recipient and Commander Lieber.

ROTC Awards Presented at Kennesaw State University

April 24, 2008

ROTC Commander, Capt. Paul Gates addresses the troops at Kennesaw State University and advises them about the Awards presentation by The American Legion North Cobb Post 304.

Commander Lieber presents the Gold American Legion ROTC Medal Awards and Certificates to: Junior Cadet Ryne Asher for Outstanding Military Excellence, Junior Cadet Robert Deaton for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Also awarded Silver American Legion ROTC Medal Awards and Certificates to Sophmores: Cadet Larry Johnson for Outstandin Military Excellence and Cadet Steven Whitton for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

One Cadet was absent. Here are the recipients, along with Capt. Gates, Post 304 Commander Larry Lieber and ROTC Awards Co-Chairman Fred Gaines.

North Cobb/Harrison High Schools

JROTC Awards Ceremony

April 23, 2008

The North Cobb/Harrison High JROTC Color Guard provides a stately commencement to the Awards Ceremony, which was attended by about 300 cadets, family, teachers and friends.

1st Sgt. Brian Foster introduces the young ladies who sang The National Anthem and got things started.

Post 304 ROTC Awards Co-Chairman Larry Hale (r) provides background of The American Legion and the Awards for Scholastic Excellence and Military Excellence. Standing by him are (l-r) Post 304 Commander Larry Lieber and North Cobb/Harrison Jr-ROTC CDR Joel Reaves.

The winner of the Scholastic Excellence Award (Certificate and Ribbons) is:

North Cobb Cadet Duncan Hall.

The winner of the Military Excellence Award (Certificate and Ribbons) is:

Harrison High Cadet Grant Tucek

April 19, 2008 Big Shanty Parade

Downtown Kennesaw, GA

As ususal,Post 304 provided the lead Color Guard for the Big Shanty Arts & Craft Festival in Downtown Kennesaw. The Color Guard consisted of Commander Larry Lieber, Finance Officer Tom Stenzel and Jr. Vice Commander Rich Ray. Here they are ... ready to get started.

But first, the Legionnaires were greeted by U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss.

Here, Senator Chambliss departs. That's Kennesaw Downtown Business Assn. and Parade organizer Marlon Longacre in the shorts.

About to get started. Kenesaw Mayor Mark Mathews is shown in the middle in the coral shirt.

The American Legion North Cobb County Post 304 Color Guard leads the way, followed by the JROTC Color Guard and Cadets from North Cobb High School.

Commander Lieber marches the Color Guard.

In passing.

North Cobb High School JROTC Color Guard passes.

Kennesaw Councilman and Post 304 member Tim Killingsworth.

Commander Lieber's grandson, Jordan, enjoys the parade - especially the part where his granddad passes.

Post 304 Conducts Operation Hands-On: Veteran's Day For Kids at Sope Creek Elementary

March 10, 2008 was the day that Post 304 arranged for World War II veterans to speak to the fifth graders at Sope Creek Elementary School in Marietta, GA. There were about 180 students and teachers in attendance and the veterans told their stories of their experiences during WWII. The kids and their teachers received the veterans enthusiastically.

Sr. Vice-Commander Alan Johnson introduces the veterans and tells the students what to expect during the presentation. On stage, l-r: Legionnaire Bob Titshaw, Commander Larry Lieber, Rev. Ewell C. Black, Jr., Legionairre Ray Unser, Legionnaire and Asst. Chaplain Duane Young.

Ray Unser relates his WWII experiences to the audience.

And the Fifth Graders listen intently.

Rev. Ewell Black, a WWII MIA/POW from the Battle of the Bulge, tells of his captivity on December 19, 1944 and his experiences in German prisoner camps until he was liberated in April, 1945.

The crowd listened to Rev. Black's harrowing experiences as though they were mesmerized.

After the presentation, the students were eager to speak with the Veterans.


Rev. Black shows the students some momentos of his captivity.

And afterward, the Veterans were interviewed by a young "Barbara Walters" for SC-TV, for presentation to the student body.

Noticing that the colors were not flying on their departure from the school, Post 304 gladly posted to colors for the school before leaving the premises.