1950: The American Legion School Award medal was completely revamped. A new design front and back, One uniform size. This design was applicable for award to either boys or girls. Again inbronze, 2½-inches across from the Medallic Art Company.

The legend, motto, name and award attributes are the same as the male award from 1922 but the central devices are all new. The military motif on the obverse is now WWII with a soldier, sailor andairman in the foreground with troops in full pack going by behind. At parade rest, on alert and on the march, the medal is all about military preparedness. The reverse has lost the eagle and moved toa central composition of a radiant lamp of knowledge sitting atop an open book above a crossed olive branch and feather pen. A very well thought out design for this award. The sculptor has not beenidentified but he was certainly talented and skillful. The sculptor Paul Fjelde (1892-1984) has been suggested but further research is required.

Web site visitor Edward Stevens writes:

OBJECT
The American Legion School Award began as a yearly prize given to males graduating from the eighth grade. On the reverse of Joseph Renier's medal, the lamp of wisdom rests upon an open book. Thefive-pointed star below represents the qualities listed around the perimeter of the image. This star also symbolizes the five branches of the military that appear on the obverse: here, a sailor, anaviator and three soldiers evoke not only the organization sponsoring the award, but also the ideal career of the student who receives it.

ARTIST
Joseph E. Renier
(born Union Hill, NJ 1887 -- died New York City 1966)

Joseph Renier grew up in New Jersey and studied at the Art Students League in New York. He attended art schools in Paris and Brussels, and in 1915 won the Prix de Rome to study at the AmericanAcademy. He served with the American Red Cross in Italy during World War I and in 1921 finally returned to America. He created many architectural sculptures, reliefs, and medals, which includeddesigns for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Civil War Centennial, and the American Heart Association. In 1959, Renier was awarded the gold medal for sculpture from the American Artists ProfessionalLeague.

Image Credits: Photographed by J. H. Hare. Image is courtesy of the Adolph A. Weinman papers, 1893-1960 in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

To read the complete article, see:
Sculpture: Medals: American Legion School Award Medal(http://americanart.si.edu/luce/object.cfm?key=338&artistmedia=0&subkey=171687)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE AMERICAN LEGION SCHOOL AWARDS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n06a26.html)