Boys State 2010 Appreciation- Legislative Subcommittee Sponsorship

July 12, 2010

Mr. Douglas Williams, Mason, Michigan

I am writing to thank you so much for sponsoring me to attend the 2010 American Legion Michigan Boys State Program in Midland last month.

I am so grateful to you for this chance of a lifetime.  I did have the time of my life!  Boys State is going to go down as the best activity I’ve done in high school.  It really sparked my interest in how the government works – at all levels.  I can’t wait to start participating in voting and politics.

I wrote a report for you and for Mr. Cowan.  It highlights some of the activities from my great week there at Boys State.  It was really fast-paced and exciting – I wish it could have been more than just one week.

Thank you again for giving me this life-changing opportunity.  I will always be a strong supporter of Boys State.  I will also always remember your kindness and generosity in giving me this memorable experience.

Sincerely,

Alec H. Findlay

Boys State Thank You

To The American Legion Department of Michigan,

My name is Ian Magenta and I had the privilege of participating in Michigan Boys State this year.  This program changed my life.  It has allowed me to establish lifelong friendships, learn from some of the best counselors, and allowed me to meet some very honorable American Legion members. 

I have also been selected as one of two principle delegates from the state of Michigan to attend Boys Nation. 

I am writing the email to personally thank the American Legion for this program.  I would also like to thank the staff, both volunteers and American Legion members, for their work at Boys State this past year.  It was an honor to meet them and I hope they continue to run this program in the future.  Please send them my regards.

  Sincerely,

A Moving Experience

By, Eric Schuman, Post 248

I was watching the news this morning on TV and saw something that sparked my attention more than usual.  It was a local boy that was killed in action in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device).  His name was Army Ranger Spc. Bradley Rappuhn.  I didn’t know him from Adam but he was a brother through armed forces, and I had no meetings or anywhere to go so I thought I’d drive over as the news report had commented on and stand by the road and salute as his hearse drove by.

Traveling south on Airport Rd. from I-69 I noticed I was following another motorcycle.  Then I saw him turn into the airport and I thought… “I wonder…”  So I turned with him and followed him into near the terminal when all of a sudden I saw a whole bunch of motorcycles lined up which turned out to be the Patriot Guard.

As I got off my motorcycle they were just giving out the instructions to the group.  At the end, there were a few questions asked.  So I stuck my hand up and when called on I said I noticed they were an organized group I wasn’t part of and so I didn’t know if they wanted me to ride with them or not.  The leader said, “You’re more than welcome” and as the whole group started applauding, about 8 of them came forward to me and shook my hand and said “welcome, we’re glad you’re here”.

As the procession started out, I was amazed that there were no less than 5 patrol cars from 3 different jurisdictions (Michigan State Police, Eaton County, and Lansing Police departments) and 5 police motorcycles, and all of the police motorcycles had American flags flying on them as did quite a few of the motorcycles with the Patriot Guard.  So off we went, there were probably close to 50 motorcycles, the police in front of us with the hearse and family members behind them, and then the Patriot Guard.

We left the airport heading west and pulled onto South Airport Rd.   I was stunned to see 2 LFD ladder trucks fully extended over the road with a huge American flag hooked up and flying between them.  We turned onto Grand River heading westbound and I was pleased at how many vehicles were lined up along the road, stopped with people standing outside their cars or trucks.  Some were just standing there, some had their hands over their hearts, and some of the gentlemen were saluting (obviously veterans).

This continued all the way out Grand River to M-100 with different types of vehicles from cars to motorcycles to pickup trucks to large delivery trucks and even semi-tractors.  Many of the people standing along the road held flags.  Some of them were small ones, some were 3x5 feet on a pole.  One little boy standing near his father was saluting while dad had his hand over his heart.

With the police blocking traffic, we turned south onto M-100.  We approached the National Guard Armory where they had parked 3 different battle vehicles in front and a whole squad of reserves was standing there at attention and saluting in their fatigues with their commander standing out in front of them along the road.  How moving for a veteran to see.  I saw young, old, tall, short, heavy, thin… no waving, no shouting, every one silently reverent.

Then my eyes moved to the right and I saw an older man on a corner in front of his pickup truck holding a folded American flag in a display case and saluting as presumably he lost a son or daughter in war also.  Shortly after that I saw an older couple standing together near their car and they were both wiping tears from the eyes at the same time.  How can one not be touched by a sight like that?

We passed a business on the left that had a flagpole in front of their building and yes, it was at half-staff but more importantly, all of their employees were standing out in front single file facing the street at “attention” silently watching with their hands over their hearts.

We turned from M-100 towards downtown Grand Ledge and there were a few more people along both sides of the road which didn’t surprise me.  But then we angled onto Bridge Street on a straight shot downtown and my jaw literally dropped.  There, on both side of the street for over 3 blocks including all the way across the bridge were, not literally but it seemed liked, every citizen from Grand Ledge.  People were lined up 8, 10, 12 deep on both sides of the road.  Flags were everywhere, people waving, saluting, some had their hands over their hearts.

We turned at the main corners of town south again and arrived at the funeral home.  We parked our motorcycles right there on the side of the street with police halting traffic at both ends of us.  We walked across and witnessed an honor guard with flags, and the coffin bearers pulling it out of the hearse while we were all at attention and saluting.  They slowly in unison removed the casket, turned, and marched it into the funeral home.

We thanked the police and they thanked us and off we went our separate ways.  I have never in my life been part of such a moving experience as this.  How could anyone witness this and not be “changed”?