Latest news with #AmericanLegion
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arkansas Boys State wraps up in Little Rock, delegation elects new governor
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The 84th session of Arkansas Boys State concluded with the election of Flynn Capps, a rising senior from Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, as the 2025 Arkansas Boys State governor. Capps, one of 566 delegates from across the state, was chosen by his peers after a week of immersive civic engagement and leadership development, which culminated at the Arkansas State Capitol. 2025 Arkansas Girls State wraps up at Harding University Capps's journey to the governorship began with uncertainty. 'At first, I was scared and didn't really want to talk to anybody,' he admitted. 'Everyone's still in their box and nobody's really come out yet.' But that changed when he took a chance and ran for mayor of his city within the program. Winning that race sparked a deeper passion for Capps. 'At that point I was like, this is fun. I think I want to try it,' Capps said. That try turned into a full campaign for governor. 'We got to the final two, and I was like, this is it,' he said. 'In the end, I got governor, and it was a great experience.' For Capps, the title is secondary to the impact. 'Regardless if I got governor or not, the experience I had with these people is far beyond anything I could've imagined.' The American Legion Arkansas Boys State Program, now in its 84th year, provides a week-long deep dive into the structure and function of state and local government. Delegates form mock cities and counties, campaign for office, pass legislation nd simulate state-level operations—all while forging lasting connections with peers from every corner of Arkansas. Lloyd Jackson, executive director of the program, has seen firsthand how transformative the experience can be. 'They start with us on Sunday night not knowing what they've gotten into. By Thursday, they're asking, 'Do we have to leave?'' Jackson described Boys State as a brotherhood. 'It's a week that will shape and change your life—and Flynn really gets to be the personification of that.' Throughout the week, delegates elected their own city and county officials, state legislators and constitutional officers. Capps emerged from a competitive multi-stage process involving two political parties—the Federalists and the Nationalists—ultimately winning over 51% of the 'statewide' vote. Now, as governor, Capps serves as the face and voice of Boys State, leading ceremonies, signing or vetoing mock legislation and representing the program at American Legion events throughout the year. He will return in 2026 to mentor the next class of delegates and said he is committed to making the most of his opportunity. Colonel Nathaniel Todd appointed to American Legion Arkansas Boys State Commission 'I'm going to try my hardest. I'm going to make sure Boys State is represented correctly. This is a good opportunity for Boys State to come together and learn how they can lead their own state,' he said. 'I want to make Arkansas great. I want to make it a better state in this great country that we have.' Looking ahead, Capps plans to apply what he's learned back home in Hot Springs. 'It's not just upon me but all of us to do better in our own cities—whether that's food drives or any kind of social service to better our cities and Arkansas,' Capps said. From a quiet arrival to a rousing election night victory, Flynn Capps embodies the spirit of Boys State—leadership, courage and a willingness to grow, Jackson said. As he takes on his new role, he leaves behind a simple but powerful reflection: 'I went into Boys State wanting to learn how to be a leader—and I'm going to leave it that way.' For more information about Arkansas Boys State, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day observed: North Country honors those who gave all
NORTH COUNTRY — The most solemn of America's national holidays was observed in towns, hamlets and cities throughout the North Country. TWO SERVICES HELD NEAR ELIZABETHTOWN ELIZABETHTOWN — American Legion Post 113 conducted two Memorial Day services, Monday. The first was at the Essex County Veterans Cemetery in Wadhams. At the end of first service, the participants moved to the Village Park in Elizabethtown. Newman Tryon American Legion Adjutant emceed the ceremonies and read a list of those who gave their lives for our country from the towns of Lewis and Elizabethtown. Tryon recounted the history of the Essex County Veterans Cemetery in Wadhams which has interred 103 Veterans in its 19 years. He also thanked Danny and Angie Wallace who spearheaded the Hometown Heroes banners program every year. Rev. David Sullivan of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, himself a Veteran, officiated at both the opening and closing prayers. Ash White lifted her voice in singing the Star-Spangled Banner. Representing the Legion Auxiliary Lena Robetoy placed a wreath at the WWII monument. Amid crosses signifying America's wars and conflicts the program concluded with the playing of 'Taps.' Heroes remembered in Keene Valley KEENE — At the foot of the Adirondack's Great Range in Keene Veterans Monument Park American Legion Post 1312 Commander Tom Both told of the purpose of Memorial Day. Rev. Susie Allen led those gathered for a moment of prayer. Peter Slocum gave a short history of Veterans of early Keene. Amy & Peter Nelson lifted their voices in singing 'America the Beautiful.' Rev. Allen said, 'They left our peaceful Valley to protect freedom and justice. Each hoped that their conflict to be the last for peace of all mankind.' Slocum traced Keene's heroes going back to the Revolutionary War. In particular there was Eli Hull who at age 12 tried to enlist, but General Washington would not allow it. However Hull and three sons enlisted for the War of 1812 in Plattsburgh. A traditional Legion ceremony was provided by Post 1312 Chaplain Robert Lewis and Commander Emeritus Larry House. This was followed by the Borealis singers performing, a simple but powerful message, 'Dona Nobis Pacem,' (Grant us Peace); the refrain of which is repeated as the only lyrics. A salute by the Post 1312 Rifle Squad echoed through the hillside as did. 'Taps' performed by Lynn Dewalt. Perhaps the most poignant moment of the ceremony was the song, 'Travelin Soldier,' sung by Lauren Whitney accompanied by Amy Nelson on guitar. It tells the story of an 18 year-old soldier heading to Vietnam. He meets a waitress with whom he corresponds. At a football game at the girl's high school after the National Anthem and Lord's Prayer, the local soldiers who died in the war are announced. The soldier's name is on the list, but only the girl recognizes his name. She mourns for him as stated in the line 'One name read and nobody really cared but a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair,' a scenario that has unfortunately been repeated countless times. SOLDIERS HONORED, EULOGIZED IN WESTPORT WESTPORT — The morning fog emanating from nearby Lake Champlain added another dimension to remembrances of the past and those who gave their lives for this country. The program started with Felix Haskins performing 'America the Beautiful' on the cello. This was followed by Westport Town Supervisor Michael Tyler welcoming more than 125 in attendance and leading them in the 'Pledge of Allegiance.' Ashley Rodriguez sang 'The Star Spangled Banner' which was followed by Pastor Barbara Jackson of the Westport federated Church giving the invocation. Jackson said in part, 'We give thanks to those who saw the need and stepped up. They gave the most precious gift they had. Help us be worthy of their sacrifices.' The keynote speaker was Lt. Col. (retired) Andrew Beal who served three deployments in Iraq and two in Afghanistan, while receiving three Bronze Stars. Beal eulogized the heroics of WWI Army Veteran William W. Morrison, Sr. and WWII Army Veteran Frank Dougal. Morrison was with the 76th Infantry known as the Liberty Bell Division. He survived trench warfare while living in foxholes on the front lines. 'He never asked for glory,' said Beal. Dougal was with the combat engineers Keystone Division in Normandy and the Ardennes Forest. His unit had to crawl through mines and booby traps with machine gun fire strafing overhead. Then it was off to liberate Paris and on to Germany where they encountered what was called 'the Hurricane Force.' There were many casualties as they slogged through knee deep mud. On Dec. 17, 1944, Dougal and many of his comrades were captured during the Battle of the Bulge. He then endured the horrors of a POW camp before being liberated. Veterans George Maffey and Dick Fritz laid wreaths, followed by Taylor Haskins playing 'Taps' and final remarks by Tyler and a benediction by Pastor Jackson.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Soldiers' sacrifices remembered at Memorial Day observation
Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes says he often has to explain to people the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Estes was one of the speakers at Monday's Memorial Day ceremony in Broadway. The ceremony was moved inside to American Legion Post 347 because of rain, but that didn't dampen the crowd. More than 100 packed the Legion to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. 'Over the years, I've had to explain the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day to people,' Estes said. 'This is the easiest way I can think of to explain it — I want all of the veterans in the audience to stand up. I want to give them a round of applause. So on veterans day and every day, we can celebrate them for being here. On Memorial Day, we would celebrate the same people that just stood up if one thing would have changed in their lives. If they would have turned a different way or they would have driven a car in a different direction or if someone had taken a different shot, they wouldn't be here today. To me, that's the easiest way to explain it to people. The difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day is that we would have been celebrating with these heroes if one thing would have been different.' The ceremony began with the crowd reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before joining Cindy Buchanan in singing the National Anthem. Pastor Eddie Thomas of Juniper Spring Baptist Church then gave the invocation. After Estes spoke, Broadway Mayor Donald Andrews welcomed the crowd and shared a few thoughts, including welcoming the members of Trail Life USA, Troop NC-2717, and American Heritage Girls, Trop NC-1715, who would have presented the colors had the ceremony occurred outdoors. 'I saw them out there yesterday practicing, making sure everything was ready to go,' Andrews said. 'I hate that Mother Nature was a little uncooperative.' Andrews noted that for many, Memorial Day is a three-day weekend to kick off the summer, but for others, it's much more. 'It's a day set aside to remember veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice ensuring our freedom,' he said. Andrews said that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. 'Vietnam veterans are special to me,' he said. 'As many of you know, my dad served in Vietnam. The Vietnam War divided our country. Nonetheless, the men and women who volunteered — or were drafted — carried out orders that our country asked of them. They did not come home to ticker tape parades or celebrations. It's only been in the last 20 years or so that we tried to correct that oversight.' Andrews said, of the more than 58,000 troops killed in Vietnam, 1,600 were from North Carolina and 14 from Lee County. He also shared a list of their names. 'These brave men and women we honor today, some whose names are listed on the memorial wall down the street, answered the call from their country and defended the freedoms and liberties that we are enjoying today. They come from farms, small towns and large cities. Their diversity spans all demographics. When asked to defend this nation, they stood strong in the face of tyranny. I would ask that if you gather later with family and friends, please take a moment to remember them and the 1,354,000 Americans who died defending this country. They made the ultimate sacrifice.' Charles Parks was the final speaker. He served in the Marine Corps. Parks gave a brief history of Memorial Day, which was known as Decoration Day. 'On May 26, 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation that recognized the tradition of preserving the tradition of what had begun 100 years before,' Parks said. 'Most of you here today recognize the importance of this day to remember the sacrifices that have been made to keep our nation free.' Parks said he has concerns that as older veterans and citizens become complacent, young people do not realize the sacrifices that have been made. 'We are slowly losing factual history,' he said. 'I find that a lot of young people disrespect our flag and those who have served. We are not teaching them to love and respect our nation. They are not being taught that history — real history.' Parks then shared the story of a book that included the story of one of his wife's uncles, who was killed in World War II. 'My wife and her sisters, who were born after he was killed, knew nothing but a picture and a name until two years ago, when we found a book that had almost a total history of his life in the service. After his sister passed, we found this book — for uncle John Burleson.' The book contained information about his service as a medic. 'If they had not made the effort, we would not know anything about his service,' Parks said, noting that Burleson landed on Omaha Beach a month after D-Day and worked to take care of the wounded until he was killed in France. Parks concluded by telling the crowd that they need to pass down their stories to preserve the history for future generations. 'There is no reason not to have recorded history,' he said. 'We have multiple avenues to record your history.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fallen comrades recalled during Memorial Day service
FORT GIBSON — Three comrades were on retired Army sergeant Tim Smith's heart Memorial Day — Sgt. Gauthreaux, First Sgt. McGinnis and Lt. West. Smith spoke about those three Monday at Fort Gibson National Cemetery's Memorial Day service. 'Gauthreaux came into my section arrogant, cocky. ... I helped him get back on track,' Smith said. 'A bracket broke off a door, an explosion went through his advanced combat helmet. It took them five minutes to figure out where he was injured. 'McGinnis took a medical waiver to go to Iraq. The doctor said he couldn't go, and he fought to get a waiver. ... The first day we had transfer of authority, an IED went off and he was gone.' 'Lt. Kyle West ... never left the POD but one time. We teased him, joked around, he never left. His job was to stay at his base and take in the logistics. We had an aircraft go down, we had to salvage the equipment and he paid the ultimate price that day.' Smith said 17 from his squadron and 28 from his base never came home from combat. 'Don't let those names be forgotten, tell the stories,' he said. Smith talked about the 650 flags that line parts of U.S. 62 and Willey Road leading to the cemetery. 'Here's the reason why we want to do that here,' Smith said. 'I can't be where First Sgt. McGinnis is laid to rest. I can't be where Sgt. Gauthreaux is laid to rest in Louisiana. I can't be where Lt. Kyle West is. I can be here, though, making sure years and years from now that when you drive out here you say 'man, they respect our veterans.'' Smith, former post commander at Frank Gladd American Legion Post 20, said a post honor guard does 20 military funerals per month. 'The record is 12 in one week and four in one day,' he said. 'I want you to think about our veterans, think about those who paid the price.' In an invocation, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Chaplain Forrest Kirk asked that people 'never forget the cost of freedom.' 'War reveals that reality,' Kirk said, recalling those who gave their lives 'so that we can have the nation we have, so that we can have the freedom that we have.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marshall American Legion taking submissions for community art project for building
MARSHALL - A team of local veterans and community members are working together to help bring back the Davis-Sexton American Legion Post 317 in Marshall. The American Legion building has been a part of downtown Marshall for decades, but hadn't been used much in recent years. But after Tropical Storm Helene devastated much of downtown Marshall, including the building, which sits at the corner of Bridge Street and Back Street/Jerry Plemmons Way, a number of organizations are working to make the building better than ever. Marshall resident and U.S. Army veteran Sarah Scully is organizing an art contest to raise funds for the nearly 100-year-old building, the only American Legion building in Western North Carolina that was severely impacted by Helene's floods. The art contest is designed to help transform the American Legion building into a cultural hub and event space, including potentially hosting music performances, according to Scully. The roughly 1,500-square-foot structure is needing a complete rebuild. The team is currently constructing a 400-square-foot party deck, and plans also include a catering kitchen, two bathrooms, a green room and a stage. The project, costing $260,000, has received roughly $80,000 in donations from volunteers and labor from various organizations, including the Three Rivers First United Methodist Church in Three Rivers, Ohio, who helped reframe the building. Every Angle Construction, located just across the street, plans to work with the Legion to help perform construction, as they quoted the buildout at $260,000. "What's really beautiful is, you can see the potential of it," Scully said. "You have six picture windows. You can see the island, the river, everything." Scully said the Post 317 team wanted to rebuild the Legion in the same spirit in which the community, volunteers and military, including the Army's 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, rallied together in the Helene rebuild. Joe Schmidt is Post 317's shift commander. "We would like to be more interactive with the community, and what better way than to have local artists paint murals on our building?" "We hope visitors and veterans alike will come and enjoy one of the best views of the river." According to Scully, the rebuilding efforts have already helped to revitalize the Post as a whole, as attendance at meetings and participation in the group has increased since the Post held its first post-Helene meeting in November. "If you look at where the Legion is and the parking that it has, it's like the best location in downtown," Scully said, adding that membership numbers and attendance meetings have both increased post-Helene. The suggested requirements for the artwork are to be military and patriotic in nature, showing American Legion & Post 317, showcasing one or all six branches of the military. But Scully said they can be either subtle or overt representations. "The artwork doesn't have to be overtly patriotic," Scully said. "It can be subtle and have the town and the river and the mountains." The artwork at the Post 317 building will not only offer local artists a chance to showcase their talents, but will also allow the artists' work to be on display in Marshall and inspire current and future Legion members. "We want to keep that spirit alive and open up our Post for events in the future. We thought, 'Why not create beauty out of the destruction?' "Why put in some tile when you could put in a mosaic? Why put in a regular wall when you can do something artistic? Why not bring beauty back into the building now that we have a clean slate?" But for Scully, who spoke with The News-Record in November, the artmaking process can provide breakthroughs for the creators and the community at large. A survivor of sexual trauma while serving in the U.S. Army, Scully suffered from PTSD as a result of her military sexual trauma. "I first did art therapy at the VA, and it was so beneficial. All of these alternative types of therapy, rather than just sitting in a therapist's office and talking about your problems, when you can look around and see the beauty that other people have put into the world, it really helps," Scully said. "I think it will help not just the veterans but the people that have been through so much with Helene, for people to enjoy this space." Scully said she hopes the contest can become a community art project. Ideas posed by Scully include four murals, one on each exterior wall. Another option is two murals, one on each side of the barn door in the event space opening to the stage. Other ideas for projects include the potential for glass blowers to supply lighting fixtures in the bathrooms, hallway or office. The Legion team will take submissions related to mosaics, woodworking, ironwork, textiles, photography and mixed media as well. "The whole thing will become an art piece, not just little bits of art. That's the vision - for the whole thing to become a piece of art," Scully said. More: Marshall native Sarah Scully's new weekly news broadcast a program for and of the people The Legion team plans to announce contest winners around June 16. "Everybody talks about 'Build back better,'" Scully said. "We can bring beauty back at the same time." Johnny Casey is the Madison County communities reporter for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@ This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Marshall American Legion taking submissions for building art project
