SOLAR ECLIPSE AUGUST 21, 2017

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Each year The Department of North Carolina joins the 54 other departments and the over 10,000 local posts in The American Legion High School Oratorical Contest.  The contest, open to US citizens or lawful resident under the age of 20 and currently enrolled in grade 9-12, is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the US Constitution and with public speaking skills that can help them with advancement in their chosen profession. Complete rules can be obtained by clicking the links below, contacting NC Department Headquarters or by visiting the national headquarters web page.  North Carolina students begin their advance toward the national finals at their local high school. Each contestant gives an 8 to 10 minute prepared speech on what it means to be a citizen under the US Constitution. Each student must also speak from 3 to 5 minutes on an "assigned topic" drawn at the contest from a list of 4 predefined topics. This topic will be the same for all contestants in the contest once drawn.  School winners have the opportunity to compete in and advance past county, district and division contests to reach the department contest. Department winners travel to The American Legion's national headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana where they can advance through 3 rounds of contests (quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals) to become the national champion.  In addition to scholarship awards presented by local posts the Department of North Carolina provides scholarships for participants of the division and department contests. The national organization provides scholarships for those who compete in the 3 rounds in Indianapolis with the top 3 contestants receiving $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000.  Click on the links below for complete contest rules or contact the NC Department Headquarters for information on contests and scholarships up to and including the department finals.  

When not is class session, boys can participate in various sports, such as swimming, basketball, track, band concert, talent show, soccer, and many more.

 Please see movie about Boy's State.

http://ncboysstate.org/Movie.html

Contact: Bob Bond  rpbond@hotmail.com

Catawba College will host the 77th annual session of Tar Heel Boys' State June 19-25. This is the eleventh consecutive year that the weeklong event has been held on campus and approximately 300 participants, all rising high school seniors from North Carolina, are expected. Notable state leaders traditionally speak at sessions during Tar Heel Boys' State. Past speakers have included the N.C. governor and lieutenant governor, the N.C. attorney general and secretary of state, as well as distinguished alumni from the programs. This year, slated speakers include on Monday, June 20, at 9:00 a.m., Representative Linda Johnson will speak about writing bills and at 10:30 a.m. Senator Jeff Jackson and Senator Andrew Brock will speak about the Political Parties; on Wednesday, June 22, at 1:00 p.m., Representative Carl Ford will discuss his role as an elected official in county government.  Karen Alexander, Salisbury city mayor will discuss her role as a city official and Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., NC Supreme Court Justice, Robert Edmunds will speak on the Judicial System.  United States Congressman Bob Inglis will speak on issues facing the US Government on Friday June 24 at 10:00 am to the young men. During the evening of Friday, June 24, participants will entertain each other with a band concert, and a talent show.  The week concludes with a commencement ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 25, in Keppel Auditorium. Sponsored by the American Legion, Tar Heel Boys' State is directed by Roy Pressley of Waynesville, NC, an American Legion member and a Boys' State staffer for the last several years.  Involving high school juniors who are academically in the top third of their class, the program is a weeklong practical study of the structure and operation of North Carolina State Government.  In a non-partisan atmosphere, participants take a hands-on approach to learning how state and local governments function.  Citizens, as the participants are known, develop an understanding of the responsibilities of citizenship by creating and living under their own mock government. During the week, citizens are grouped into cities as they organize their own local government, elect officers, prepare a city charter and conduct city activities.  Citizens also assume the role of a senator, representative or lobbyist to research and write bills for their legislature.  Each citizen is also a member of a fictitious political party that will develop a party platform, campaign for party candidates and ultimately elect a slate of officers to govern. Former Boys' State participants of note include Catawba College Alumnus Phil Kirk '67, chairman emeritus of the N.C. State Board of Education; professional basketball great Michael Jordan of N.C.; and N.C. Governors Jim Hunt and James Martin.  National program alumni of note include former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Vice Presidents Al Gore and Dick Cheney, U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, former NBC News Anchor Tom Brokaw and NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong. For more information about Tar Heel Boys' State, visit www.ncboysstate.org.  

Tar Heel Boys' State is sponsored by The American Legion Department of North Carolina. It is an intense workshop concentrating on North Carolina state government and politics. Some 500 rising high school seniors representing all geographic areas of North Carolina participate annually in this program. Since 2003 the sessions have been held on the campus of Catawba College, Salisbury, NC
 

The American Legion believes there is no better way to assure the survival of our great republic than to train our young people in the ideals and objectives of American government. By teaching the youth of our state and nation to understand and appreciate the basic principles involved in the successful management of a democratic society, we can keep America strong and ensure freedom for future generations. Tar Heel Boys' State teaches the preservation of our form of government that depends on intelligent, informed and loyal citizens in combination with government activities.  Objectives of the program are:   

• To improve citizenship for present and future generations of Tar Heels 
• To become familiar with the structure of North Carolina government and it's      political process using the LEARN TODAY TO LEAD TOMORROW concept of      instruction 
• To develop civic leadership and pride in American citizenship 
• To arouse a keen interest in the detailed study of our government 
• To develop in the young citizens of Boys' State the full understanding of our      American traditions and beliefs in the United States of America 
• To arouse in the young citizens a determination to maintain our form of      government 
• To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and      nation 
• To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and      democracy 

These objectives are reached through the two-fold process of classroom lectures and role-playing.
 

Upon arrival at Boys State the delegates are assigned to one of 2 imaginary political parties, the "Federalists" or the "Nationalists". Membership in these parties forms the core of the educational experience. Classroom instruction is provided on subjects such as law, civil service and election procedure. Other special "schools" are held prior to elections to inform candidates of the duties of the office they seek and after election to cover how the elected officers and appointees can carry out their duties. All citizens of Boys State receive instruction in Parliamentary Procedure.   

The Sons organization is divided into detachments at the state level  and squadrons at the local level. A squadron pairs with a local American  Legion post; a squadron’s charter is contingent upon its parent post’s  charter. However, squadrons can determine the extent of their services  to the community, state and nation. They are permitted flexibility in  planning programs and activities to meet their needs, but must remember  S.A.L.’s mission: to strengthen the four pillars of The American Legion.  Therefore, squadrons’ campaigns place an emphasis on preserving  American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our  nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and teaching  the fundamentals of good citizenship. Since 1988, S.A.L. has raised more than $5.8 million for The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.  S.A.L. members have volunteered over 500,000 hours at veterans  hospitals and raised over $1,000,000 for VA hospitals and VA homes. The  Sons also support the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition dedicated to  protecting the U.S. flag from desecration through a constitutional  amendment. 

SAL coming soon.