“America has a debt crisis, but no debt is higher than what America owes its veterans, who already sacrificed years of service, lost family time, physical injury and the comforts of home so that the other 90 percent of Americans can continue to live in freedom. Throughout our nation’s history, every time we cut defense we paid for it with American blood.”
American Legion National Commander Fang Wong
Every year San Francisco Police-Fire Post 456 of the American Legion sponsors two young men to attend California Boys’ State. This year, the 75th session of Boys’ State, will take place 16 June through 23 June, 2012. The young men will be housed on the campus of California State University, Sacramento, with plenty of dorms, showers, athletic facilities, adequate classrooms, and plenty of good food. It is really a college atmosphere.
The objective of Boys’ State is to educate our youth in the duties, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. The strength of a nation lies not only in the size of its armed forces, but also in the character, loyalty and intelligence of its citizens. As we all know, citizenship confers many privileges, but it also imposes duties and obligations. If these duties and obligations are not understood and not fulfilled, the privileges may be lost. That person is a good citizen who understands his government, who recognizes his duties and obligations to it, and who fully and intelligently participates in its problems and shares its burdens. In order to prepare the youth of today to become good citizens tomorrow – and to qualify as intelligent citizens, voters, and office-holders, they today must be trained to understand the structure and workings of their government.
At Boys’ State each delegate, as he registers, is assigned to a city, and thereafter is a resident of that city. His bed is in that city area. From 35 to 50 young men are assigned to each
city. A group made up of several cities constitutes one county, and, together, all constitute the State. The delegates are divided into political parties, not Democrat and Republican, but Federalist and Whig – just so they can see how political parties, as such, function under our form of government. The first order of business for the delegates is to set up their city governments and elect their city officials. The City Councils are organized and the mayors make appointments. Once the city governments have been established, the delegates organize their respective County Governments. They elect a Board of Supervisors, County Clerk, Treasurer, Tax Collector, District Attorney, Sheriff, and others, all the way up to Governor.
Although there is ample time for recreation, Boys’ State is NOT a picnic, NOT an outing, and NOT a recreation camp. Recreation is not forgotten, however. Athletic activities are scheduled each day from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m.
If you know of a “squared-way” young man who is currently a Junior in High School that would be interested in being sponsored to Boys’ State by San Francisco Police-Fire Post 456 let me know as soon as possible. You can contact me at 650 821-7026 (work), 415 759-1076 (Home), or at gc1207@comcast.net. My son attended Boys’ State and the next year during the college application process, being able to put “attended Boys’ State” on the applications was huge!
Pointing out that President Obama just pledged a month ago to “keep our armed forces the best-trained, best-led, best-equipped fighting force in history,” American Legion National Commander Fang Wong warned that if the administration’s 2013 defense budget is enacted, the U.S. military will once again return to a hollow force.
“To keep the best fighting force, you must recruit and retain the best people,” said Wong following the announcement of the proposed Department of Defense budget. “By increasing, and in some cases quadrupling, health insurance fees for military retirees, you are sending a powerful message to those in uniform and to their families that their decades of service and sacrifice are unappreciated.”
The budget for 2013 represents an 8-percent cut from 2012. In October, the American Legion passed a national resolution that called on Congress and the White House to “cease all efforts to reduce the defense budget from its current level.”
The Army announced February 26 that it has recovered the remains of the last American service member who was unaccounted for in Iraq, an Army interpreter seized by gunmen after leaving base to visit his Iraqi wife during the height of the insurgency in October of 2006. The remains of Staff Sgt. Ahmed Altaie were turned over as part of an amnesty exchange agreement between the Iraqi Government and the militant group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, under which the group will not face criminal prosecution or penalties if it disarms or turns over prisoners.
Still missing in Iraq are several civilians, including Americans who were participating in efforts to rebuild Iraq. The family of a fallen Air Force pilot also awaits progress in its case. Air Force Major Troy Gilbert was killed in an F-16 crash and the Air Force had identified his remains but hasn’t recovered the body.
The San Francisco Police-Fire Post of the American Legion welcomes all veterans from both fields to join the Post. Contact me and let’s talk! (650) 821-7026 – work, (415) 759-1076 – home, gc1207@comcast.net. God Bless America!
