Typically every summer, more than a thousand incoming high school seniors from across New York state converge for a one-week program known as Boys State.
What You Need To Know
- The American Legion says it could use state funding to support a program for teenagers called Boys State
- The program allows teenagers a chance to experience and learn about the various positions and workings of government, from the state level down to individual towns
- There is also a push to help fund programs aimed at preventing veteran suicide
"Boys State is a program that teaches kids things that, quite frankly, they don't learn in school today," American Legion Dept. of NY Legislative Chairman Lee Hinkleman said.
Hinkleman is an avid supporter of the program.
"It teaches Americanism. It teaches citizenship," he said.
In essence, the program is all about bringing government to the students, teaching them the inner workings from the state level all the way down to individual towns.
"The kids actually form a government where they have a governor. They have senators and they have mayors. They have sheriffs," he added about the program.
In fact, New York used to contribute about $150,000 a year to the program, funding it has since pulled. That's why Hinkleman is getting involved.
"It's a program that's starting to grow again. We've made it through the pandemic. We're going forward now with everything else," he said, adding the funding restoration would be a game-changer for the students.
And not only is he pushing for that funding to be restored (the actual new request is $200,000), there is one more program that he says is just as important and needs just as much support, and that is called "Be the One."
"[It] deals with veteran suicides," he said. "You know, when you look at 16 to 22 veterans die each day, that's 50% more than the average Joe out there, the civilian side of the house."
The campaign was started a few years back at the Legion's national level. It stresses the fact that no one should ever be ashamed or embarrassed to admit something is wrong.
"I mean, this is horrendous. This is horrendous. The 'Be the One' campaign is something that can really help if the state gets involved. I think we can make progress," he said.
Supporting these programs, he says, supporting the Legion from high school on, is how you grow a community.
Locally, the requests from the Legion have gained support from North Country lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Walczyk, who is currently overseas, serving a tour of duty with the Army reserves.
The American Legion Auxillary supports a similar program called Girls State.