D. Erickson
Source: Captain John Wallace
Thursday August 8, The American Legion and Auxiliary Post 93 held the annual youth program and reception acknowledging the delegates of The Palmetto Boys and Girls State. The delegates received their diplomas for their completion of the program for 2023.
The presentation began with the standard call to order. The presentation, salute to the flag, pledge, and prayer concluded the customary order of the American Legion meeting. A reception took place after the ceremony. Roy Long, Paul Pye, Robert Bagget, Steward Goodwin, and Becky Mellander volunteered to cook for the event.
The young men and women from Colleton Preparatory Academy and Colleton County High School were then awarded their diplomas for participation in the 2023 Boys and Girls State program. Capt. John Wallace was the Master of Ceremonies and a 1956 Boys State delegate. He spoke on the significance of the opportunity the Boys and Girls State program provides young people.
The American Legion Boys and Girls State Programs are among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students in the country. Boys State has been an active program of the American Legion since 1935. Later the American Legion Auxiliary started a similar program for young ladies called Girls State in 1947.
The program is participatory in which each delegate becomes a part of the workings of local, county, and state governments through mock structure.
The delegates, or “citizens” are divided into cities that make up counties. Citizens are divided into political parties, compose a platform, and run “campaigns” for elected offices in various levels of government. After elections are over the newly elected officials run the city, county, and state governments. The activities include all the responsibilities that come with running a government. These undertaking include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations and assemblies. The programs are intended to inspire interest and pride in government on the local and national level.
Annually high school juniors are selected by local American Legion Posts, in this instance Walterboro post #93, to attend these programs. In most cases, expenses associated with attending are paid by the Post with donations from local businesses, industries, community-based organizations, as well as individual citizen donors. Palmetto Boys and Girls State is hosted at many different schools. This year the boys were hosted at Anderson College and the girls at Presbyterian College. Exciting changes to the programs occur each season and the staff is always on the lookout for ways to improve the programs.
This year’s participants are: Colleton Preparatory Academy, Boys State, Maddox Christopher Brewster, Riley Southerland Carlock, Owen Martin Harrelson, Raleigh Jaden Obenaus, Garrett Palmer Smith, Girls State, Sidney Bailey, Jenna Cox Olivia Sumner, Colleton County High School: Emma Marie Gladstone (2023 Nathan M. Wolfe Law Enforcement Academy), Lily Kilpatrick, Alexandria Stephens, Christian Williams.
