Manson American Legion sends four students to prestigious Civic Education Programs

MANSON — The Manson American Legion Post 108 has reported a successful year for its Boys and Girls State program, sending four local high school juniors to participate in the prestigious civic education events in June 2024.

Commander Clyde McCullough announced that three students from Manson High School and one from Chelan High School attended the programs, which aim to teach young people about democracy and government operations in Washington state.

The Boys State program was held from June 16-22 at Warm Beach Conference Center in Stanwood, while Girls State took place from June 23-28 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. These programs, part of a nationwide initiative created by the American Legion, provide hands-on experience in local, county, and state government operations.

Post 108's Boys and Girls State Committee, consisting of Robin Bloch, George Rohrich, Marie Cannon, and John Swenson, coordinated with local school officials to select and prepare the delegates. The Legion post, along with donations from community members, covered the full tuition costs for the students, totaling $2,440.

Participants reported positive experiences, with one delegate, Addison Richmond from Manson High School, expressing gratitude for the opportunity in a letter to the Legion. Richmond noted personal growth and valuable lessons learned about government and civic engagement.

The American Legion emphasized the program's non-partisan nature, focusing on teaching democratic principles rather than promoting specific political ideologies. The organization also highlighted the program's potential as a resume-building experience, citing numerous notable alumni from various fields.

Manson American Legion Post 108 meets monthly and continues to support youth civic education initiatives. The post encourages eligible veterans to join their efforts in community service and support for local youth programs. For more information contact Norm Manly at 509-293-0225 or normmany@yahoo.com

To learn more about Boys state visit www.evergreenboysstate.org and Girls State www.evergreengirlsstate.com 

Norm Manly, Post Service Officer, contributed to this report.