71st session of Boys Nation begins Friday

On Friday, the 71st session of American Legion Boys Nation gets underway in the nation's capital. The 49 American Legion Boys State programs have each selected two young men to attend the week-long event in Washington, D.C., where participants will learn about the U.S. system of government and more.

Upon arriving to the campus of Marymount University in Arlington, Va., which has been home to the program for the past 30 years, the 98 rising high school seniors will be assigned to the Federalist or Nationalist party. On campus the young men will conduct party conventions and senate sessions, elect a president and vice president, introduce and vote on bills submitted by their peers, and hear from guest speakers such as Holocaust survivor Nesse Godin. Activities off campus include a tour of the National Mall, visit to the Twilight Tattoo, meetings with elected officials from their respective states, and dinner at Greenbelt Post 136 in Maryland with special guest National Commander Dale Barnett.

View the 2016 Boys Nation agenda here, which is subject to change. And follow the young men throughout the week on www.legion.org/boysnation, which will feature stories, videos and photos highlighting the program.