American Legion members celebrated their Boys and Girls State competitors with a scrumptious potluck, a surprise birthday cake and even a colorful camp song last Thursday night at Veterans Hall in Fort Bragg.
Three high school juniors gave short speeches about their experiences at Boys and Girls State before an appreciative and graying crowd. Applications are submitted by high school juniors in Point Arena, Fort Bragg and Mendocino and one boy and one girl from each school can be chosen for a week of learning about government in Sacramento or Fresno.
Heidi Heldstab, chosen to represent the American Legion from Fort Bragg High School, also had a birthday Thursday and got a surprise cake and two songs from members of the patriotic organization.
In addition to “happy birthday” her mother, Irene Heldstab, who was once a girls stater herself, led a round of the summer campish “take me over to boys state” to the tune of take me out to the ball game “buy me a Bill or a Bob or a Jack, I don”t care if I ever …” the camp song went, with the crowd quickly picking up the words.
The fun came with a serious message that has lasted her lifetime.
“What it did was make me a voting and interested citizen of the United States, I thank you for that opportunity,” said Irene Heldstab, who attended the 32nd annual Girls State, while her daughter just got back from the 64th annual event.
“It was your forerunners who sent me and I am glad you gave my daughter the same opportunity,” Irene Heldstab said.
Boys and Girls State events sounded like a political summer camp with all the fun focused on educating high school juniors about government and politics. Each student is expected to contend for political seats among roughly 1,000 other standout students, to build alliances in mock cities, counties and state government.
Loren Harner-Rasmussen, the Boys State selection from Mendocino High School, described the learning experience of the camp where he became Carson City fire chief.
“We didn”t win best city, … but we all came together in a way I hadn”t seen before. Here are a bunch of people I didn”t know from all over the state. Together we formed something real that worked. It was like we became a family,” said Harner-Rasmussen.
Mendocino County Supervisor Kendall Smith, the invited speaker last Thursday, encouraged the Boys and Girls Staters to get involved in schools, religious groups or local government efforts such as the City of Fort Bragg”s meetings on use of the Georgia-Pacific Millsite.
“You can plug into your community and get involved. All of you have something to offer,” said Smith, praising the Legion”s choices.
Kodi Rider, chosen from Fort Bragg High School, described the buzz of 23 cities, five counties and 1,000 boys. He made an unsuccessful city council bid.
“One of the highlights was seeing the governor [Schwarzenegger made speeches this year at both Girls and Boys State]. I really learned a lot there, I took advanced placement government at the high school and had learned a lot. But there I had the chance to apply what I knew,” Rider said.
Candidates whose values match those of the venerable veterans group are more likely to be chosen for the honor of Boys and Girls State, said Carol Brown, who was in charge of the Girls State efforts at the potluck. She said the students who apply are almost always great candidates and choices are difficult.
“We want to be sure they have some feel for their country and that they believe in God,” said Guy Grenny.
Jim Holmes, 84, a former World War II B-24 pilot, was one of a large group of older veterans who enjoyed hearing from the young people.
“This is great, we get to see what we are spending our money on. These are valuable lessons. They learn government by doing it, running for office from DA to councilman, they organize campaigns. They have to say why they”d be good at what they are running for,” Holmes said.
Breanna Margis, the Girls State choice from Point Arena High, and Katherine Wright from Mendocino High, were not able to attend the event.
