66th Boys Nation program begins July 22

Throughout the day Friday, 98 young men will be greeted with "Hello senator! Welcome to Washington" by Legionnaires volunteering for the 66th American Legion Boys Nation program. These young men - who have been selected by their departments' Boys State programs - will convene in Washington, D.C., from July 22 - 30 for "a week that shapes a lifetime."

Throughout the weeklong program, the senators will reside at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., and participate in daily activities on and off campus that provide a thorough understanding of the nation's political process. Between senate sessions, party conventions, and elections for a president and vice president, the senators will visit prominent memorials and historical sites around Washington such as the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the Supreme Court and the National Mall. Click here to view the Boys Nation agenda, which is subject to change.

Family and friends of the young men, along with Boys State/Nation alumni, can stay connected with the senators throughout the program by visiting the Boys Nation portion of our website. On a daily basis, the site will feature articles, photos and videos highlighting the events that the young men participate in. Additionally, four of the events will be streamed live from Legion.org. These include:

Candidate debates on July 26, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. (EDT) Elections on July 26, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (EDT) Final senate session on July 29, 8 a.m.-11 a.m. (EDT) Graduation and farewell assembly on July 29, 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. (EDT)