In April, the American Legion Riders Post 2008 held their third annual Junior ROTC paintball tournament at Dragonmanís military museum and gun range in Falcon. Organizers described the event as an opportunity for young ROTC members ómany of whom are graduating this year ó to have fun and celebrate their successes.Frank Serrano, president of the Legion Riders Post 2008, said, ìThe first year we did this, it was just targeted at Falcon JROTC. It went off really well, the kids really seemed to enjoy it, we got in touch with their leadership, and year after year, the event got bigger and bigger.îLast year, Post 2008 challenged riders from Post 38 in Fountain to sponsor the Fort-Carson-affiliated Army JROTC program. They responded, and the event has continued to expand. Post 209 in Colorado Springs donated several hundred dollars this year.The American Legion is the largest veteransí organization in the country. Now entering its 100th year, the legion was founded on four basic pillars. ìFirst and foremost weíre for veterans and the rehabilitation of veterans after they come home from service,î said Chip Kossow, commander of Post 2008. ìNext are national defense, children and youth; and, last but not least, community and Americanism.îThe Falcon American Legion Riders formed in 2008, and named the post after Dane R. Balcon, who attended Falcon High School and graduated from Sand Creek High School. Dane entered the Junior ROTC program in the early 2000s, and later enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was killed defending his country in Iraq in 2007.George Skender, one of three JROTC instructors from Falcon High School, was enthusiastic about the impact of the tournament.ìWe have a cadet corps of 249 cadets right now,î Skender said. ìThe first two years of the tournament we were for senior cadets, but this year we opened it up to second and third years. We have 35 slots; and, as you can tell, the kids enjoy coming out here.îBefore the tournament got under way, the American Legion chaplain said a prayer and Scott Peterson, committee lead for the event, addressed the cadets. ìIn order to be a member of the legion, you have to have served in the military during a war time event. We go back a century, so as you can imagine, a lot of very fine people have been a part of our organization.îThe Sons of the American Legion ó a separate group formed for the children and decedents of legion members ó also participated in the tournament.ìWe appreciate the American Legion sponsoring this thing and allowing these kids to come out here and do this every year,î Skender said. ìThe camaraderie, the experience: Itís a special thing for them to get to do.îInformation on the American Legion Riders Association can be found at http://americanlegionpost2008.org/. The Junior ROTC of Falcon High School hosts a page on the School District 49 website at https://d49.org/domain/442.
