For a couple of hours last fall, I called a time-out from the whirlwind of meetings, phone calls, speeches and travels that come with the territory of this job. A letter had to be written, and it had to come from me, on behalf of a special young man who has greatly benefited from Boys State, and vice versa.

I met Ian Dankelman when he was a junior at Sandalwood High School in Florida. I was Boys State chairman for American Legion Post 316 in Atlantic Beach. Ian came highly recommended by teachers and counselors at the school. After we talked, I knew why.

It helps to understand the competitive nature of Florida Boys State. Numerous interviews and follow-up discussions go into the selection of 525 delegates, who initially qualify on the basis of grades, extracurricular activity, school leadership and references. Once they pass those filters, candidates face more daunting challenges, the kind you won't find on the typical application form.

For instance, I often asked candidates who they would interview from history if they could choose anyone. I asked for the titles of their favorite books, the authors' names, and why their words matter. Little things distinguish good candidates from great ones. One student noticed a typo stitched into the shirt of one of my fellow interviewers: "Post Chaplin." The teen respectfully brought to our attention that the correct spelling, of course, is "chaplain." There are good ways and bad ways to point something like that out. That he did point it out was a plus, in my opinion. That he did so respectfully put him on the short list.

Ian Dankelman is such a young man - bright, charismatic, inspiring and respectful. My post sponsored him for Boys State in 2005, and he was later chosen as one of two Florida delegates to Boys Nation. That might have been enough for someone else, but not for Ian. Every year since then, he has returned to Florida Boys State and served as a volunteer counselor for other young men interested in government, citizenship, leadership, and the future of our nation. Among those he helped mentor is Co'Relous Bryant, a former Florida Boys State governor who went on to win the 2007 American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest; he is now pursuing a law degree at New York University.

Leadership, I have learned over the years, is best demonstrated when no one is watching. When a young man like Ian takes his own time to inspire others to grow and lead - whether in government, the military, at school or at home - he does so not to enhance his own career. He does so to enhance all of us. That's what leadership is about. That is why I proudly took some time last fall to write a letter of recommendation for his Rhodes Scholarship application.

You never know when an Ian Dankelman will appear at your American Legion post, looking for an opportunity to lead or to inspire others to do so. Among the thousands of students now standing before Legionnaires as the 2010 selection process hits full stride, there are mayors, governors, admirals, congressional representatives, business leaders and maybe even a U.S. president. I guarantee there are leaders, looking for opportunities only available through American Legion Boys State.