Help us recruit the next graduating class from American Legion Mountaineer Boys State. Information on the 76th program has been sent out to all WV high schools and American Legion Posts. Tell your friends about your experience and encourage them to attend. This year the program will be held June 9-15. And remember you are always welcome back to campus for the Formal Review and evening assembly on Wednesday at 6:00pm. It’s a great time for a reunion with your fellow citizens.

State of the State Speech: Within 24 hours I went from a citizen of the 75th Mountaineer Boy’s State, to Governor and representative of not only the approximate 400 citizens of Boy’s State, but also of each and every high school student in the great state of West Virginia. As citizens of Boy’s State, we have come up with ideas that best represent the important issues that affect not only the young citizens of West Virginia, but the entire population of the state as a whole.

The following individuals passed the bar exam.

2012 Bar Exam Results

These are the City, County and Board of Education General Election Results.

2012 General Election Results

The 74th Governor of American Legion Mountaineer Boys State farewell address.

About a month ago, Dale F. Lutman passed away in the hospital at the age of 65. He was a member of his local Methodist church and a member and past Commander of Alderton-Dawson American Legion Post No. 60.

He enjoyed Bingo nights, off-roading in his 4-wheeler, and hunting. He had two daughters, Jody McClintock and Ashleigh Lutman, one sister, Debra Dick, three grandchildren, Michael McClintock, Jr., Cole Franklin McClintock, and Jaxon McClintock, and one niece.

He was born on June 14, 1946 in Martinsburg. He’s the son of the late William Franklin and Anna Lou Etta Lopp Lutman.  He graduate from Berkely Springs High School and served in the U.S. Navy. He was also a Vietnam veteran and a retired warehouseman of AT&T. Mr. Lutman had put in his time and service, went past the call of duty, and passed away in his home state.

The Legionnaire Blue Cap Award is a prestigious achievement, presented to those with years of service in the Legion. Such an honor can only be bestowed onto those in the Legion with a lifetime of dedication, leading by example, and servitude. Some things that are looked at in nomination for the award are offices held, committee appointments, and other awards.

A noble man in nomination for this award can only be addressed as William F. Lancaster, Jr. of Post No. 71. A man of the Legion with such offices as Post Adjutant, Post Delegate, District VAMC Cookout, and District Representative Civic Affairs shows how well he fits for the award. He has been going to National Conventions for 10 years and Department Conventions for 15 years. He was awarded by his post the PUFL (Paid-Up-For-Life) which serves as his dues for the Legion for the rest of his life.

Straight out of

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as ‘Flag Birthday’. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as ‘Flag Birthday’, or ‘Flag Day’.

On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on

We’ve all seen them, the iconic and commanding images of a woman clad in anything but traditional, WWII period garb, rebelling by flexing her arm in resistance to the mechanical, German army and maybe even privately to American men, as well.  This celebrated image is of “Rosie the Riveter”, a stubborn symbol of the woman who can work to support herself, “her man” at war, and the rest of her family, too.

According to History.com, American women “entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during World War II, as widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force.”  From the perspective of women in the late thirties and early forties and from that of women today, perhaps the rise of the Germans served them positively.  Had they not had the chance to show the men in control that they really could “do it”, they would likely not have been given

          If you’ve visited Headquarters this week, chances are you’ve met or at least seen Mrs. Sonja Adkins also known as “the Popcorn Lady”. She was in charge of selling campaign materials to the candidates, and now she is in charge of putting together the packets the Citizens will receive at the end of the week. She also takes care of paperwork for Boys State, and she assists in selecting the award recipients. She is a very hardworking woman and one who whose work is invaluable to the success of Boys State.

          Mrs. Adkins has a love for Boys State that is indescribably strong. Just sitting there talking with her is enough to know her passion for this program rivals, if not surpasses, any other. She has served for twelve years at Boys State, where she has held the positions of campaign store worker and manager, and she has