Boys Nation senators visit memorials, Legion post

Keaton Cooper has visited Washington, D.C., before, so part of his experience Sunday night at the National Mall was watching the reactions of his American Legion Boys Nation peers.

“It’s fun to watch the guys who have not been here, to see what their first impressions are,” said Cooper, of Elkins, W. Va.

The 98 Boys Nation delegates toured the National Mall, visiting the World War II, Vietnam and Korean War memorials. While Cooper has visited the memorials before, he noted that he has a new appreciation.

“Being in Boys Nation, being around the veterans, being around the Legion, coming here tonight has been the biggest impact on seeing all these different memorials,” Cooper said. “I witnessed with a group of guys our activities director, Bob Turner, look for the names in his unit. That broke all our hearts. That was hard to watch. That brought entirely new appreciation and aspect to D.C.”

Spencer Hill of Kaysville, Utah, is in Washington for the first time.

“I’m totally overwhelmed by the whole thing," he said. "The Vietnam Memorial, that almost had me in tears. Chills down your spine, just realizing how many men gave their lives for our country. And coming to all these war memorials is amazing. There’s a special spirit here. … It’s truly a patriotic place.”

“I think we’re all humbled today by what we saw,” Cooper said. “I’ve always had respect for veterans, but Boys State has obviously really helped with that.”

Hill said the memorials serve as reminders that freedom isn’t free. “I love that wall over here in the Korean War Memorial because that’s the most true statement there is," he said. "And coming here really opened my eyes, we really do take these freedoms for granted and all that our country offers us. This experience has really opened my eyes. It’s truly amazing."

The trip to the National Mall followed a dinner at American Legion Post 136 in Greenbelt, Md., where the senators met with area Legionnaires, as well as National Commander Dale Barnett and American Legion Auxiliary National President Sharon Conatser.

Barnett recalled the tempestuous political climate of 1968, which saw civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assassinated, the Tet Offensive in Vietnam and the conflicts surrounding the Democratic national convention in Chicago.

“I was questioning, what is my role in the future of this country,” Barnett said.

The following year, Barnett attended Hoosier Boys State, where the counselors “had a spirit of service to their nation.”

“They said, you’re going to make a difference in this world,” Barnett recalled. “If your generation is going to change the world, you have to be a leader.”

And Barnett emphasized that to the Boys Nation senators. “I want you to go back (home) and give the message of The American Legion family," he said. "I want you to show them what a great organization that loves young people and changes people’s lives and tries to do things to help veterans and help our active duty and our National Guard. I want you to send them that message. I want to empower you this week.

“You have a special duty. Your country depends on you right now to do your duty, to lead … and to lead this nation in the direction you want it to be.”