The 80th session of American Legion Boys Nation ended with the senators’ graduation.
Sawyer Ray began his state of the union address to his fellow 2026 American Legion Boys Nation senators at their July 24 graduation ceremony by relating the story behind “The Star Spangled Banner.”
From there, the president of the 80th Boys Nation session called on his fellow Boys Nation graduates to take a lesson from the weaving of that American flag.
“We weave for the children of America, who spend their nights dreaming and wondering if the place where they were born will determine their opportunity.
“We weave for the parents who are trying to make ends meet because every family deserves the dignity of the American dream.
“We weave for the veteran because his sacrifice is essential for our future.
“We weave for the teacher because she shepherds the future of our nation.
“We weave for America, because Americans are our future, and we are all Americans. … Ask yourself, who are you weaving for, and why,” Ray said.
Friday night’s graduation ceremony wrapped up the latest “week that shapes a lifetime,” and Ray encouraged his peers to take the lessons they learned to impact others.
“This week that has shaped my lifetime should branch out and continue to change lives. Be the branch that changes our communities. Be the branch that changes the lives of our cities. Be the branch that changes the lives of America,” he said.
In addition to receiving their graduation certificates and pins, Ray, Vice President Krish Korrapati, President Pro Tempore Brady Pace and Secretary of the Senate John Alley Jr. received scholarships for their elected positions. The honor guard was also recognized: Pace, Riley Willis, Drew Lush, Toby White, Leo Mancha, Jacob Malagon, Bokre Samson, and Alex Hill.
Hill Day
The senators from Boys Nation and American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation met with their U.S. senators and their staffs on Thursday on Capitol Hill.
Oklahoma’s four senators met with Sen. Alan Armstrong on the Capitol steps, where he talked to them about his work in the office since being appointed in March to replace Markwayne Mullin.
“I think it was informative for us to see what he’s doing there. We really enjoyed what he was telling us about and how open he was about it,” said Arjun Deepak, Oklahoma’s Nationalist senator.
“Just being able to meet (the senators) on a human level, knowing that they are humans and they’re nothing but that, and they’re trying to represent you as best they can is important,” said Oklahoma Federalist Cameron Atwell.
South Dakota Nationalist Owen Kopfmann was already aware of Sen. John Thune’s humanity from a chance meeting in Kopfmann’s hometown of Mitchell last month. Kopfmann and the Senate majority leader reminisced about it during their meeting in his Capitol office Thursday.
“My father and I were hanging out, just bacheloring out for a day, I had worked a long day at work and my father and I decided to get Culver’s,” Kopfmann said afterwards. :I saw this tall figure leaving Culver’s, and I thought, that looks a lot like Sen. Thune. I just wanted to tell him that I was going to Boys Nation, he’s leaving Culver’s and I saw him, I was like, ‘Sen. Thune, my name’s Owen Kopfmann and I’m going to Boys Nation.’ I shook his hand, he was like, ‘Congratulations, I’ll see you there.’”
Other highlights from Boys Nation 2026
· Pentagon coverage of Boys Nation’s visit: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4555637/boys-nation-delegates-visit-pentagon-lay-wreath-at-911-memorial/
· Catch more from the week at https://instagram.com/theamericanlegion.
- Boys Nation