Pass It On is a new, bi-weekly peek inside the heart and mind of Francis Pass…

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When I was in school, the American Legion out of Anna would give out an annual award for leadership.

Your class had to vote on it. Or maybe it was the teachers. I don’t really know.

What I do know is that I was the two-time recipient of the American Legion Award. First in eighth grade and again when I was a senior in high school.

Obviously, as a youngster, I hadn’t yet served in the military. I was just a student. So I have no idea how I got picked for the award. I didn’t even know the award existed until I won it.

But I’ve been thinking about it... and if I was to give out my own American Legion Award to a young person today, the winner would have to meet the following criteria:

  • Be able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
  • Be able to sing or recite our National Anthem.
  • Exhibit leadership skills. (There are far too many followers than leaders these days.)
  • They would absolutely have to love our country.
  • Have Courage to stand for their beliefs.
  • They’d have to be a thinker. We should always seek wisdom.
  • And they’d need to demonstrate a commitment to serving others.

If I was in charge, that’s who would win the award.

But for a young person to have these qualities, I believe they must first learn them in the home.

Now that I think about it, I didn’t win those American Legion Awards. They should’ve gone to my father.

Be well. Stay well. Thanks for readin’...

Francis Pass

P.S. – Did you know the American Legion was first formed on March 15, 1919, in Paris, France? I wonder if they won an award for that.