Balaam Jones American Legion Post 510 - "Buffalo Soldiers"
2024 Scholarship Award Ceremony
Aug. 11, 2024, 11 a.m.
Vernon Parish Public Library

On Aug. 11, 2024, Balaam Jones American Legion Post 510 proudly awarded three deserving students from Leesville High School in Leesville, La., with academic scholarships for their outstanding achievements. The ceremony was held at the Vernon Parish Public Library and attended by Commander Derrick Brock, Adjutant Horace Lewis, Member at Large Jay T. Smith, Sergeant-at-Arms Ronnie Corbin, and Assistant Chaplain Patricia A. Gentry.

It was a privilege to recognize these students for their academic excellence. The scholarship recipients - Jerret Baker, Kera Janae James and Jonathan Cole Stewart - each received a $1,000 award. Their parents and grandparents beamed with pride and joy.

Brock addressed the assembly, congratulating the scholarship recipients and commending the members of Post 510 for their hard work and unwavering dedication to the core values of The American Legion. Special recognition was given to Post 510 members Jay T. Smith, Otis Baskerville and Joe Martin, whose generous personal donations in combination with Post 510 fundraising made it possible to reach the $3,000 goal. Post 510’s motto - “For the good of Legion” - rung loud and clear!

Otis Baskerville
Post Historian/PAO