The American Legion recently recognized this year’s Limestone County Boys and Girls State delegates.

Delegates and their parents were part of the annual American Legion orientation and pizza party Monday at Post 49 in Athens. The orientation gives the delegates an idea of what Boys and Girls State is. Post 49 explains the program and what students can expect while at the University of Alabama for the program.

There are 22 county delegates for Boys State and seven delegates for Girls State.

Boys State and Girls State are programs of the American Legion Department of Alabama and the American Legion Auxiliary. Scholarship opportunities may develop from participation in the program and demonstrated excellence. A few delegates to Alabama Boys State may also participate at National Boys State in Washington, D.C.

This year, in addition to the usual events, all attendees witnessed an award presented to Yancey Mitchell, who attended Boys State in 1979 as an Ardmore High School student. His attendance started a relationship with Boys State that has spanned almost every one of the years since, and he has helped Post 49 as the primary briefer and assistant problem solver.

Mitchell was awarded a memento statue, “The Eagle Award,” by Post Commander Camden Kent. Mitchell was honored for his long-time service to the Boys State program as a counselor and for 22 years of dedicated service assisting Post 49 in providing this orientation to the county’s delegates. Mitchell expressed gratitude for having been able to serve.

He said the Post 49 orientation program is one of only six such programs in the state. Mitchell said in his opinion, compared to students from areas that don’t provide such a program, students are very well-prepared when they arrive at the University of Alabama for Boys or Girls State.

Attending the ceremony was Randy Adams, principal of Athens Bible School, who in 1979 was Mitchell’s sociology instructor at Ardmore High School. Adams was not only instrumental in convincing Mitchell to attend the 1979 Boys State but later encouraged Mitchell to help him establish the annual briefing at Post 49 in its current format.

The main speaker for this year’s program was Capt. Vanessa Rich, jail administrator for the Limestone County Jail. She serves as the liaison with all courts in coordination of appearances and transportation for county inmates, pre-trial detainees and state inmates. She has been employed with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office since 1985 and involved in operations of the jail since 1997.

Rich told the delegates how proud she was of them and what an honor it was for them to have been chosen. She said she was glad to see that the delegates have such an interest in our government system.

Rich told attendees about the daily care and management of prisoners and particularly about the state of mental health of many inmates the sheriff’s office must deal with. She told the delegates that how the state will deal with this issue should be a priority topic in the Alabama legislature.

Ruby McCartney, Girls State Committee chair of the Post 49 Auxiliary, expressed confidence in this year’s attendees.

“We have seven girls to attend this year,” McCartney said. “They are top level students! The new girls were well briefed tonight by two of last year’s participants, Sophie Glover and Sabrina Webb, both are seniors at Athens Bible School. I am certain this group of girls will do really well.”

Bob Borden, chairman of the Post 49 Boys State Committee, was equally enthusiastic about his delegates.

“We have another big class this year, and the boys are really bright and enthusiastic,” he said. “I think we had lots of good questions during the briefing tonight. And, we are so very proud of Yancey Mitchell and all he has done to help us make our program a success. Yancey brought Mason Laney with him tonight as an assistant briefer. Mason was the 2018 Governor of Boys State. He is currently a senior at James Clemens High School. He wants to be an attorney, and he is interested in politics and possibly being an elected official someday. Boys State is a perfect platform for that type of development, and Mason strongly advocated to our student representatives to get involved. His message was, ‘Be involved! Do it all! And, here’s how!’ He encouraged the delegates to run for an office or try for an appointment to a Boys State office.”

Borden said the Post receives sponsorships from several local businesses and individuals.

“This helps us to have a large class of delegates and we appreciate those donors.”

This year is the 81st American Legion Boys State Program. It will convene at the University of Alabama between May 27 and June 1. The program operates under the supervision of Judge O.L. Johnson of Birmingham. The Girls State Program will also be held at the University of Alabama June 9–14.

— Rod Huffman contributed this article.