In true and humble statesman fashion, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. refused to take the glory for creating the American Legion.

“No one man can claim to be the founder of The American Legion," he once said, according to legion.org, the American Legion's website.

Roosevelt was a decorated Army leader before he died of a heart attack one month after leading troops during the Normandy landings in World War II. His life also consisted of business and civic leadership, and although he may not have wanted credit, he was instrumental in creating the American Legion that so many veterans and military families belong to today.

This concept of service to others and serving one's country is annually paid forward by the American Legion to younger generations through the Boys State program, a time-honored Legion tradition that instills in young men the qualities and characteristics of respected leaders like Roosevelt. Local legions are covering the $400 cost per student.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for these young men to go and learn how our country is run and how our state is run,” said Coeur d'Alene American Legion Post 14 Commander Damon Darakjy. "If you Google who went to Boys State, you’re going to find presidents of our United States, you’re going to find Fortune 500 CEOs, you’re going to find all sorts of renowned people.”

Kootenai County will send 11 high school juniors to Gowen Field in Boise to participate June 2-7 in Gem Boys State. During this interactive program, young men will learn about what it means to be an American citizen, including rights, privileges and responsibilities. They will explore city, county and state governments. They will hold elections and win offices, they'll experience court proceedings, legislative sessions, law enforcement presentations and more.

“I thought it was a really interesting program and that it would be fun to participate and meet other boys from around the state, other boys from the high schools around here,” said Griffin Holmes, Timberlake High School.

Griffin and classmate Lachlan Piper are both active in the Civil Air Patrol Coeur d'Alene Composite Squadron, of which Lachlan is the cadet commander. Lachlan said he is interested in civics and plans to pursue a government career.

“I saw the opportunity to go to Boys State and I figured since I want to do that sort of thing, why not go learn more about it and get to experience it firsthand?” he said.

Adam Sonntag, Coeur d’Alene High, plans to go into Constitutional law after high school.

“You would really want an understanding of how the government works to go into that line of work," he said.

His friends and fellow CHS juniors Aaron Sadler and Bryce Miller will also be going to Gem Boys State. They heard about the program from their history teacher, whose class they take as part of their dual credit program at North Idaho College.

“We were learning about Teddy Roosevelt Jr. and how he established the American Legion,” said Aaron, an Honor Society member. “I love history, I absolutely love learning about this stuff, so I was already drawn in."

Bryce said he wants to teach U.S. history someday. He said one of the best ways to understand history is through government, because so much of American history is about government and how to run the country.

"This is just a great opportunity to learn about how government works," Bryce said. "Not just that, it’s such a great big experience with the whole state of Idaho."

Bryce was recently elected to serve as the ASB spirit leader at CHS.

"Boys State will be a great opportunity for me to learn more about leadership and being a big speaking voice for others," he said.

Logan Doyle was enrolled in the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy, a quasi-military school, before going to Lake City High.

“It was camaraderie, teamwork and brotherhood, basically like the military, and I loved it,” he said.

Logan, a Key Club member, has aspirations to go into the military, possibly the National Guard. He said Boys State seems like something he would really enjoy.

"It seems like a way that I can bring what I have to the table,” he said.

Boys State was founded in 1935. Its counterpart, Girls State, began in 1937. It is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary to give young women similar opportunities to learn about responsible citizenship and love for God and Country. The Idaho Syringa Girls State will take place June 9-14 in Nampa on the Northwest Nazarene University campus.

Both programs have national elements. Two representatives from each of the 49 Boys States will represent their state at Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., where the young leaders will receive education about how the federal government works.

Timberlake students are sponsored by the Athol American Legion, the Coeur d'Alene American Legion sponsors those from the Coeur d'Alene area and Lakeland-area students are sponsored by the Rathdrum American Legion.

Also going to Boys State 2024:

• Wyatt Marcelli, Lakeland High
• Marley Bilski, Nicolas Gronlund and Zachary Cook, North Idaho Stem Charter Academy
• Zachary Blansfield, Timberlake High

    Marcelli
  

    Cook
  

    Gronlund
  

    Bilski