Tennessee Student Elected Vice President of the 2017 American Legion Boys Nation

WASHINGTON--()--James Blackburn has won the vice-presidential election for the 2017 American Legion Boys Nation at Marymount University.

“It’s a really humbling feeling right now,” said the Shelbyville, Tenn. native. “I’m excited for the future. To hear people that are passionate about something they believe in the government, it’s really great because it shows that there’s a future in America.”

Boys Nation, a signature program of the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization, provides an intensive week-long, hands-on education in American politics and the legislative system for a select group of high school students each year.

“Going through Boys State in Tennessee and coming to Washington to be a part of Boys Nation – it’s an amazing program,” Blackburn said. “We’re here to make connections that will last a lifetime and that’s what this program is about … everybody is really tightknit with each other, we’re really close and everybody is a super good friend. I can’t thank everybody enough.”

The incoming senior at Shelbyville Central High School, Blackburn plans on attending the University of Tennessee and pursuing a career as a lawyer.

Two representatives from each of the 49 Boys States represent their home state as a senator. The senators caucus at the beginning of the session, organize into committees and conduct hearings on bills, allowing delegates to learn the proper legislative procedures according to the U.S. Senate. Activities include mock party conventions, legislative elections, debates, speeches and visits to Capitol Hill and other historical sites. Delegates will also visit the offices of their state’s respective members of Congress and present bills of their own creation.

Since Boys Nation began in 1946, a number of its graduates have been elected to public office, including presidents, congressmen, state governors and state legislators.

Photos of Blackburn at Boys Nation are available at http://elvis.legion.org:8080/?w=WiZdJQ-

Contacts

American Legion
Joe Plenzler, 301-800-9457
cell 202-263-5758
jplenzler@legion.org

Contacts

American Legion
Joe Plenzler, 301-800-9457
cell 202-263-5758
jplenzler@legion.org