WESTMINSTER — David Daniels, Harrison Gibby, Gavin Larrimore and Henry Martinez, who are rising seniors at Kent County High School, spent a week in June at American Legion Boys State on the campus of McDaniel College.
They were among the 141 Maryland high school students — representing 22 counties and Baltimore City — who attended the June 16-22 program.
The American Legion posts in Kent County sponsored the KCHS students.
At Boys State, participants learn about their rights, privileges and responsibilities. There is practical instruction on the duties and responsibilities of citizens and public officials.
City, county and state governments are operated by the students elected to the various offices.
According to the Maryland Boys State website, activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, choruses and recreational programs.
This year’s staff included four members of the Sgt. Preston Ashley Legion Post 228 in Rock Hall: Larry Crouch, assistant director-operations and logistics; John Larrimore, political officer; and Matt Larrimore and Sawyer Cornelius, city counselors.
Boys State was founded in 1935 by two Illinois Legionnaires, and the first program was held at the Illinois State Fairgounds.
In Maryland, the intervention of World War II, travel restrictions and lack of space put the program on hold until a complete study was made and visits to other Boys States were conducted in 1946.
The first Maryland American Legion Boys State was in June 1947 and was held at Fort Meade; there were 36 boys enrolled.
Boys State programs currently exist in all Legion departments in the United States except Hawaii.
According to the American Legion website, “as separate corporations, Boys State programs vary in content and method of procedure, but each adheres to the same basic concept: teaching government from the township to the state level.”
By the way, there also is an American Legion Auxiliary Girls State. This year’s program in Maryland was held June 16-21 at Salisbury University.
