American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett visited the University of Nevada, Reno on Monday, June 20, 2016. No, he came not to see college students; he came to see high school seniors, mostly 17-years-old – 125 of them.
While he certainly speaks and emotes with liveliness, he prefers more to walk. The walks in question involve a sort of parade, with members of the community following a patriotic banner led by veterans in the American Legion.
He leads walks like these across the country. In Reno, he brought the seniors from a business auditorium, around the university quad, through its memorial garden, across a bridge into downtown, and finally back to the university.
As I walked alongside him, “deputized” to photograph the mass of young men, Barnett related how walks like these first began. He had been looking for ways to get families more involved with the Legion and to get Legionnaires out in their communities. He now brings the activity along wherever he goes.
Seniors met Barnett as part of the civic leadership program, Nevada Boys’ State, which pits seniors against seniors in an immersive one-in-a-lifetime mock government experience. While the program may not sound exciting from the onset, its conference is far more than a live-action C-SPAN. The program, sponsored by the American Legion, tells its purpose best through its creed: coaching delegates “to participate in, and contribute to, the civic and political welfare of [their] community, state, and nation.”
The American Legion has held Boys State conferences annually since 1935, according to the official website. For over 80 years, the programs have introduced thousands to the world of politics.
Often times, programs see a number of special guests. Nevada Boys' State 2016, having met National Commander Dale Barnett on Monday looks forward to meeting Political Reporter Jon Ralston on Thursday and State Governor Brian Sandoval on Friday in Carson City.
For more information or to apply online, please visit nevadaboysstate.org and follow them social media @nvboysstate
