American Legion Holds Their Annual Boys State Dinner

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Article contributed by Lloyd Brown, The American Legion, Post #0032 Boys State Chairman
The American Legion held their annual Boys State dinner Thursday evening at the American Legion Post #0032 at 2014 Hwy. 9 East, Dillon, S.C. After the dinner, Post Commander Asa McDuffie opened the meeting and turned it over to the Post Boys State Chairman, Lloyd Brown
Brown spoke about the cost of the Boys State program and how the American Legion raised funds to support it. He thanked the Dillon County School Board members for their generous support of such an important program. He also thanked the citizens of Dillon County who support this program. There were three members of the School Board present at this dinner.
boys State is the largest program sponsored by the American Legion. All states have a Boys State program. This past year, South Carolina sent over 1,000 boys to Anderson University for a week in June; this is more than the largest states, California and Texas sent to their Boys State program. South Carolina really cares about the young men who will one day be our future leaders. Boys State was started in 1935 by two American Legion members, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card in the State of Illinois.
The boys who are in this program are selected by their teachers and counselors to be interviewed and tested by members of the American Legion, Post #0032 in Dillon. The boys are asked questions about their towns, counties, states, and federal government. The boys with the highest grades are the ones who become Delegates and get to spend a week in June at Anderson University learning more about our form of Democracy and our governmental system.
The boys attending the dinner are presented with a certificate of participation for their contributions to the program and the opportunity to speak about their week at Anderson University. This is usually a group of funny events. The guests and members of the Post are given an opportunity to ask the boys questions about their week at Anderson University or about their future plans.
Several of the Boys State members were not able to attend due to previous commitments.