Americanism

Many moral and patriotic values have come under attack in the United States.  Prayer has been removed from schools, the U.S. flag is no longer protected from radicals and the reference to God has been challenged on our currency and in the Pledge of Allegiance.  The American Legion is dedicated to God and country, with a membership of military veterans that take pride in the U.S. flag and all it means.  The American Legion programs educate our youth in what it means to be devoted to law and order, respectful observance of patriotic holidays and remembrances, education, and law-abiding citizenship.

Community outreach programs like Boys & Girls State Program, Oratorical Contest, American Legion Baseball and Scouts of America establish strong ties within our community.  The young people of today will be the leaders of tomorrow …making important decisions that may affect all of us and our future armed forces.

California Boys & Girls State Program

The Boys & Girls State program began in 1937 and is held in each of the U.S. states.  In 2023, the program changed to Co-ed.  The American Legion Boys & Girls State is a summer leadership and citizenship program for high school juniors.  Delegates are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties, and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen.  The program focuses on exploring the mechanics of American government and politics and teaches how the political system & procedures work by negotiating and bartering.  The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices.  Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus, and recreational programs.

This develops

• leadership
• Americanism
• knowledge of democracy
• teaches the democratic process by establishing City and County governments.
• The delegates also campaign for legislative offices.

Students are nominated by their high school counselors during their junior year. The California Boys & Girls State program is held each year in Sacramento, California in June. 

This is a one weeklong program in Sacramento for a about 900 delegates sponsored by California American Legion Posts. 

For additional information, please see the California Boys & Girls State webpage at California Boys State (boysstatecalifornia.org)

Two recent delegates sponsored by American Legion, Post 291, Newport Beach were selected to Boys Nation, and became the Boys Nation President, 2018 Joshua Cheadle and 2021 Ryan Jung. Boys State / Boys Nation | The American Legion

Notable alumni of the Boys & Girls State program include Tom Brokaw, Bill Clinton, Neil Armstrong, Jane Pauly, Michael Jordan, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Wahlberg, Abigail Spencer, Leeza Gibbons, and Harry Reid.

Famous alumni of the Boys State program include Tom Brokaw, Bill Clinton, Neil Armstrong, Mike Huckabee, Michael Jordan, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Wahlberg, George Pataki, and Harry Reid.

(862) Tom Brokaw on Boys State – YouTube

Oratorical Contest – Scholarship Program

The American Legion High School Oratorical Contest is a program of the American legion that gives high school students the opportunity to compete for college scholarships in a “Constitutional Speech Contest.”  This program started in 1937.

High school students cultivate their communication skills as they develop deeper knowledge and understanding of the U.S. Constitution.  Participants grow in leadership ability, their capacity to think and speak clearly and intelligently and understanding of the rights, responsibilities, obligations, and privileges of U.S. citizens.  Participants must be High School students, under the age of 20 years old and citizens of the United States.

The program focuses on aspects of the Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen’s duties and obligations to our government.  The assigned topics each year can be found at Oratorical Contest Assigned Topics | The American Legion

There are two parts to the contest at the Post level- 

• The contestants must deliver their prepared oration (no note cards are allowed) to the judges and audience.  The oration must be between 8-10 minutes. All contestants complete part one.
• Five minutes before the start of the assigned topic discourse, one at a time, the contestant receives a note card with an assigned subject.  No outside information such as cellphone or the internet can be used.  They have 5 minutes to prepare for the assigned oration, which must be between 3-5 minutes.

All contestants must give their prepared oration and the assigned topic discourse to receive the scholarship monies.

Post winners move to Area competitions, then to the Department Oratorical finals and on to the National High School Oratorical Contest.  Scholarships are awarded to three finalists, 1^st place receives $ 25,000, second gets $22,500 and 3^rd takes home $ 20,000.

For additional information, please see website Oratorical Contest | The American Legion (www.legion.org/oratorical )

Orange County Baseball

Did you know that many of the greatest names in baseball spent their teenage summers in American Legion Baseball uniforms? Hall of Famers such as Dave Winfield, Rollie Fingers, and Reggie Jackson still speak of the influence Legion ball had on their lives and careers.

Each year, nearly 100,000 athletes participate in American Legion Baseball, the nation’s oldest and most respected amateur baseball program. Posts sponsor teams in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, giving young men wholesome, healthy activity and lessons in sportsmanship, loyalty, and respect for rules and fair play. www.legion.org/baseball

Orange County American Legion baseball gives players an opportunity to develop their skills, personal fitness, leadership qualities and teaches sportsmanship, patience, discipline, focus, and how to build friendships. 

The baseball season schedule will be available in late May.  Post 291 Legionnaires will sponsor one team. The schedule will be emailed to all members and can be found during the season on the Post website.  We would love to see you at the games to cheer on our team.

Scouts of America

The mission of the Scouts of American is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Oath: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally wake and morally straight.

Law: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheer, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

Post 291 hopes to sponsor two Scouts of America units each year.

The Scouts of American provide the nations foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.

For additional information, please see the Orange County Scout webpage at Home – Orange County Council (ocbsa.org)

Donations to the Americanism programs