Post 180 Boys State Coordinater is Past National Commander Dan Dellinger (nautdan@aol.com)

BOYS STATE

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2021 Boys State Update: This year, due to coronavirus restrictions, our sponsorship numbers for attendees were limited and the following boys were selected to represent Post 180 at the 76th Session of the American Legion Boys State program held at Radford University, June 20-26. Oakton High School: Debarshi Roy, Nolan Campbell; James Madison HS: Tanner Davis; GC Marshall HS: Daniel Pena Salazar.

American Legion Dyer-Gunnell Post 180 has a strong history of supporting Virginia's Boys State. PNC Dan Dellinger is our Boys State POC and arranges an annual Golf Classic tournament to raise funds to sponsor boys to attend the program. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 the 2020 78th session of Virginia's Boys State was cancelled. The Post, however, continues to raise funds to be able to send more rising high school seniors to Boys State in 2021.

American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government.

Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935 when it organized to counter the Fascist inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

At American Legion Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.

High school juniors are selected by local American Legion Posts to attend the program. In most cases, expenses associated with attending this program are paid by a sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business or another community-based organization.

American Legion Boys State is currently conducted in 49 Departments of The American Legion. Hawaii does not conduct a program. As separate corporations, Boys States vary in content and method of procedure, but each and every Boys State adheres to the basic concept of the program - that of teaching government from the township to the state level.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for young ladies called Girls State. For online details visit  http://www.boysandgirlsstate.org/girls.html

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