The 82nd Annual American Legion Boys State officially began today, June 9, 2019. Approximately 350 young men from all regions of West Virginia went through the registration process, which
included their cottage and party assignments, as well as issuance of their American Legion Boys State t-shirts.

After registration, the citizens were off to their assigned cottages to meet their counselors, find a bed, have an orientation, and get ready for the Law Lecture and Bar Exam. Each citizen was given The American Legion Boys State Manual of Government, which will be his guide throughout the week.

The American Legion Boys State program offers opportunities for each citizen to have hands on learning in banking, journalism, law enforcement, legal, political, homeland security, National Guard, corrections, and emergency management career paths.

The American Legion Boys State counselors and staff are volunteers who are available to help with any need that may arise whether it is career

Barbour/Webster – Bryce Wamsley, Braxton – Camron Wayne, Calhoun/Gilmer – Robert Boglesong, Harrison/Upshur – Alexander Dilullo, Kanawha – Nathan Mayo, Lewis – Dakota Westfall, Marion – Pierce Spain, Monroe – N/A, Panhandle – Trent Clad, Randolph – Richard Sams.

American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for U.S. high school students. It is a participatory program in which students become part of the operation of local, county and state government. American Legion Boys State was founded in 1935 to counter the socialism inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first American Legion Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a separate but similar program for young women called American Legion Auxiliary Girls State.

At American Legion Boys State, participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county and state governments. Operated by students elected to various offices, American Legion Boys State activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement

The 82nd Annual American Legion Mountaineer Boys State will be held June 9-15, 2019 at West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill.  Students will take part in creating the 51st State to the Union.  Founded in 1936, the goal of The American Legion Mountaineer Boys State (ALMBS) is to educate and train West Virginia youth in understanding one of the country’s most precious freedoms; the democratic form of government.  ALMBS is characterized as “West Virginia’s Premier Leadership Academy!”  Participants receive instruction and hands on experience in the governmental, political, and legal processes and participate in a variety of “career paths” that include Political, Legal, Banking, Law Enforcement (State Police and Natural Resource Police), Journalism (Broadcast & Print), Homeland Security (National Guard), Corrections, and Emergency Services. West Virginia proudly holds the 2nd oldest American Legion Boys State charter in the nation.

ALMBS is sponsored by the nation’s largest wartime veteran’s service organization – The

Mark McMillion is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of leadership experience, training, and practice. As a West Point graduate, he was privileged to learn at the finest school of leadership in the world.  With two engineering degrees, he understands how hard data drives decisions.  As a veteran leader, he’s learned and practiced the soft skills of leadership. With tours of duty in Germany, Norway (with NATO), and two combat tours in Iraq, he served in a variety of positions on three continents and across the United States.

Contrary to what many believe, leadership in the Army is not as simple as giving orders or court-martialing someone.  Building mutual trust, loyalty, and respect for others are critical requirements to be an effective leader in any environment.

His career highlights include his times as platoon leader, West Point assistant professor, battalion executive officer, and exercise planner for NATO.  Each of these positions

Dr. E. Gordon Gee is one of America’s most prominent higher education leaders, having served as president of some of the most prestigious public and private universities for more than three decades.

When he returned to lead West Virginia University in 2014 as the institution’s 24th president, it was a homecoming of sorts. He was first named WVU president in 1981 at age 36 – at the time, among the youngest persons to ever serve as a university president.

He led WVU until 1985 when he went on to presidencies at the University of Colorado (1985-90), Brown University (1998-2000) and Vanderbilt University (2001-07). He served as president of The Ohio State University from 1990-97 and again from 2007-13.

On his return to the Morgantown campus, he said, “This is not a job to me; it is a calling.” His leadership style bears that out as he works tirelessly to advance the University’s land-grant

Judge Hall is a native of Brunswick, Ohio. He has a bachelor’s degree (1990) in Mining Engineering Technology from Fairmont State University and worked as a project engineer/Certified Mine Foreman’s Assistant before earning a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law in 1995.

Judge Hall was elected to a new seat in the Twenty-Sixth Judicial Circuit (Lewis and Upshur Counties) in May 2016. He took office on January 1, 2017.

He was a law clerk in an Elkins law firm, a public defender in the Second Judicial Circuit (Marshall, Tyler, and Wetzel Counties) and then a Randolph County assistant prosecuting attorney. He was an assistant prosecuting attorney in Harrison County for eleven years before then-Governor Earl Ray Tomblin appointed him to the circuit bench in the Twenty-Sixth Judicial Circuit (Lewis and Upshur Counties) in 2013. He served sixteen months but was unsuccessful in retaining the seat in the 2014 election.

Niko Fuscardo – Calhoun

Stanley Apanowicz – Barbour

Joe Faucette – Kanawha

Garet Hostuttler – Randolph

Austin Macek – Marion

Brian Walker – Lewis

Johnathan Kammer – Braxton

Matthew Edie – Panhandle

John K. Brumley – Kanawha

Tyle Kibler – Harrison

Joshua Meadows – Monroe

Jomo Smith – Webster

How To Dispose of A Flag

• The U.S. Flag Code suggests that when a flag has served its useful purpose, “it should be destroyed, preferably by burning.” For individual citizens, this should be done discreetly so the act of destruction is not perceived as a protest or desecration.
• Many American Legion posts conduct disposal ceremonies of unserviceable flags, especially on Flag Day (June 14). Such ceremonies are particularly dignified and solemn occasions for the retirement of unserviceable flags.
• Take your old flags to your local American Legion post.  They will be happy to retire your flags in their next disposal ceremony.