American Legion Gives $50,000 to Local Public School Booster Clubs

Marquez booster club members accepted a check from the Legion, given by Kevin Niles (center) and Joe Ramirez (right).
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

By HENRY KAMER

June 14 was a remarkable day in Pacific Palisades. This was the first day that the town was open to the public after the fire destroyed the community on January 7, and it was also important because the tradition of the Legion supporting education by giving checks to public schools continued.

A ceremony was held at the Ronald Reagan American Legion Post 283 (right next to the Post Office) and checks were given to Canyon, Marquez, and Palisades Elementary, Paul Revere Middle School and Palisades High School.

Palisades Legion Commander Joe Ramirez and District 24 Commander Kevin Niles distributed the checks.  As Niles said in making the presentations, “education is one of the most important tools in shaping the youth into the leaders and innovators of the future.”

Each school’s representatives/booster club received a check of $10,000 and delivered a short speech detailing how their journey through the fire has been. Canyon Charter returned to their campus in late March after a soil and indoor air report was completed, after spending a small length of time at Brockton Avenue Elementary School near University High School.

Canyon School parents accepted a check for their school
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

Canyon’s representatives detailed how the funds would be helpful in creating more opportunities for students and bringing community back together, especially after more than half of the school left directly after the fires (those numbers are slowly climbing back up). Nicole Sheard, the Canyon Principal also lost her home in the Palisades Fire.

Marquez Charter has been temporarily relocated to Nora Sterry Elementary on Sawtelle, and hopes to rebuild and be back in the Palisades in the fall, boosted by the generous funds given by the Legion. Currently one-third of their student population has relocated to other schools/areas. Portable classrooms have gone up on the lower campus and as soon as testing proves its safe to return that school will return, while a new one is built on another part of the campus.

Pali Elementary was represented at the awards ceremony.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

A representative of Pali Elementary’s PRIDE booster club stated that 25% of the school’s students left when the school temporarily relocated to Brentwood Science Magnet. The booster club also delivered a sense of hopefulness to the audience as the rep said Pali will push to come back soon, inspired by Marquez and Canyon and assisted by the Legion funds.  The iconic bell tower and the original building of the 1922  school and the lunchroom are all that remain on that historic campus in the center of the town.

Next to receive a check was Paul Revere, which lost 350 students but was able to resume classes on their campus. The funds will be useful as the projected incoming sixth grade class will be lower than usual, partly due to the insane situation Pali High finds itself in. Revere is a feeder school to PaliHi.

A Paul Revere Middles School representative gladly accepted a check for the school.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

Speaking of Pali High, this reporter was generously allowed to be a part of the receiving group, taking a picture and delivering a short and unpracticed speech.

This reporter and the rest of the group (which included Pali High mother Erika Feresten and the 20-year long Booster Club member Dorothieanne Carr, mother of Spanish teacher and Swim Coach Maggie Nance, detailed how they were grateful for the donation.

This may be helpful to be able to get students back to their actual campus by the month of October (administration’s estimate), instead of competing against Samo High while holding classes in the renovated Sears department store where many Palisadians bought washing machines along with tools and underwear.

Palisades High School Representatives received a check from the American Legion.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

The event was a beautiful celebration of tradition and community. It reminded audience members along with this reporter that times may be difficult, and that is normal.

Even when times are rough, they can still offer so many beautiful experiences, and they are made better by community. This event was just what the chaotic ghostown of the Palisades needed. It highlighted that even though many residents have been relocated and the town will forever be changed, it still holds a strong and passionate sense of resilience and hope, community, tradition, and appreciation of the beauty it holds.