Support Boys and Girls State Programs

As programs of the American Legion and Auxiliary, the Boys State and Girls State programs are easily classified as leadership action programs where qualified high school juniors take part in a practical government course designed to develop in the young citizens a working knowledge of the structure of government and to impress upon them the fact that government is just what they make it.

Boys State was born of a desire to counter the Fascist-inspired Young Pioneer camps of the 1930s where boys of high school age were being taught that democracy had outworn its usefulness and should be replaced by a new form of government, namely Fascism.

We encourage parents and teachers to actively recruit young men and women to participate in helping us protect our freedom by understanding our form of government. All boys and girls that have previously attended have returned from Ellensburg enthused by what they learned and determined to protect our form of government.

Because this is a nationwide program and such importance is attached, we have obtained sponsors and participation will cost the students nothing to attend.

If you have questions about the Boys State program, call the schools or go online for information at www.evergreenboysstate.org. Our local chairman is Jim Byrd; call him at 360-208-4831 for information.

For information about the Girls State program, go to www.evergreen-girlsstate.com or call Donna Byrd, Auxiliary Girls State Chairman, at 360-208-4831. We all can be proud to educate our young men and women in the ways of government. Please help us find candidates for Boys and Girls State.

Sincerely,

Ken Grimm,

Adjutant, Post 150,

American Legion Raymond

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on www.hometowndebate.com 5/1/13. If you would like to respond to this story go to hometowndebate.com