MOULTRIE, Ga. — Moultrie American Legion Post 324 held a Boys State Awards and Orientation Meeting on May 15 at The Museum of Colquitt County History. 

Three young men, Kobe Kenny, Teddy McCorvey and Master Yates were honored with medals for their participation last year and two new Boys State attendees, Kobe Dillard and Pierce Horton, were introduced.

This was the first time representatives from Boys State came to Moultrie to give the orientation, according to a Legion spokesman. They were met with the largest attendance of a regular meeting since the post was restarted: a total of 38 in attendance.

Phil Youngblood, executive director of Boys State, led the orientation with assistance from the area Boys State bus chaperone, Rod Pedersen.

This year is the 78th annual Boys State; it will be held at Riverside Military Academy. 

Boys State trains the young men in an intensive week of character and knowledge development, the American Legion post said in a press release. Long days begin at 5 a.m. with physical exercises and marches similar to military boot camps. Raising the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance as well as daily devotionals are led by the boys themselves. Classes in local and state government are buttressed by letting the boys choose which mock government office they want and campaigning for election by their peers.

Boys also brainstorm on ideas that can be submitted to the real state legislature for consideration. The white line on the side of our pavements came from such an idea many decades ago, the Legion said.

The week culminates in formal elections and a formal graduation the next day. Additionally the young men are eligible to apply for a $10,000 scholarship and possibly be selected to attend Boys Nation.

“The young men always return excited and enthused about their fun week and better equipped to serve our area,” the press release said.

Some of the young men from Boys State and sons of Legionnaires are considering starting a Sons of American Legion squadron here, according to Junior Vice Cmdr. Robin Poole of Post 324. 

An SAL does not require any startup funds or resources from the local Legion post but is considered a tremendous asset, Poole said, particularly if they vote in their independent meetings to assist the local post in its many endeavors, such as raising money for the weekly veterans bus, delivering Christmas baskets to the vets in nursing homes, working at the food bank alongside the legion and selling poppies and flags to raise money to benefit the Legion and any veterans in crisis. 

The only requirements to be a SAL is to be the descendant of a Legion member or descendant of a deceased wartime veteran. Dues are set by the SAL squadron to cover the annual $8 fee paid to the national SAL organization, which has a website and other resources. No startup fees are required and Poole has pledged to cover any miscellaneous costs and to obtain the meeting space. 

See the SAL website for information and the simple quarter-page application or call Poole at 873-1108 if you are interested in joining. Scholarships for the annual fee are also available from him.