At the Veterans of Foreign Wars state convention last weekend in Junction City, Tonganoxie won awards in nine of 15 categories at the event. Categories range from membership and hospital service to community service and legislative action.

The local post has won as many as six in one year before, so this is a record year for Post 9271, member Larry Meadows said.

Meadows actually had hoped the group would receive more awards.

“But I thought to get nine of those was really something,” Meadows said.

Tonganoxie received more awards than any of the other 172 posts in the state.

Meadows also is eagerly awaiting news about which posts nationwide will be named all-American post. Each year, posts vie for all-American recognition. Each state has the potential for one of its posts being awarded, but each post must meet certain criteria.

The maximum number of posts awarded the honor in one year is 54 — one from each state, along with the District of Columbia, Latin America, the Pacific and Europe. But it’s not required that all 54 awards are given each year.

All-American post and all-American commander results should be announced early next month, Meadows said.

“I want that award, but another 30 or 40 posts wants it also,” Meadows said.

At Saturday’s convention, Meadows was named district commander, marking the first time a Tonganoxie post member has filled that position.

Meadows will oversee the first district, which is northeast Kansas.

The district has 4,339 members.

Post 9271 earned all-state distinction for winning in nine categories in Junction City.

Member Wilbur Henson also received all-state recognition for being post surgeon.

Henson oversees the post’s hospital equipment loaning service it provides for citizens.

Meadows was sworn in as district commander on Saturday.

He previously was Tonganoxie’s post commander, a position that local resident Elmer Tanking now holds.