American Legion Post Boys State Chairman Alan Van Saun (left to right), Moorestown students Evan Makopoulos and Mike Miceli, American Legion Post 42 Commander Gene Clark and American Legion Post 42 treasurer Jack Gardner on Oct. 14.
Moorestown’s American Legion Post 42 sponsored several Moorestown High School delegates to attend the American Legion Jersey Boys State (ALJBS) program at Rider University in Lawrenceville earlier this year.
Among them was senior Mike Miceli, who was initially nervous about attending the program.
“I didn’t expect to form such a close bond with all the other boys in my city, which was really interesting and surprising to me how close we were and how close we still are, and how tight of a bond we formed through the program,” he said.
The ALJBS program is a college-level, learn-by-doing practicum that provides high-school seniors with experience in democracy, government and leadership. The program includes lectures; discussions; guest speakers; a college and career fair; and a sports program, Miceli’s favorite.
“There was a small sports segment that we had every day and I was our coach of the basketball team,” he recounted. “We beat the best team on the last day, and that was a great way to wrap things up and it was really fun to be a part of that.”
In relation to the program’s other events, something that stood out to Miceli that was different from anything he’s ever done was an activity that the delegates would do every day.
“All of the cities would march out in silence to a retreat area on the Rider University campus, where we would stand for the National Anthem as they lowered the flag,” he explained. “It was really cool because all these students from around New Jersey all came together …
“We all stayed silent in respect …” Miceli added. “It was an interesting thing the way they organized it and the order that we could present was all interesting and new.”
The instructional program of the ALJBS has three phases: seminars, functional activities and general assemblies. Seminars are held in general subjects such as government, law enforcement, legislative and election procedures.
The goal of the instructional program, according to the ALJBS website, is functional activity of citizenship practice, such as the operation of the courts, legislative assemblies, administration of law enforcement and public welfare. The weeklong program is a busy one for the delegates, so Miceli advised future ALJBS participants to put themselves out there.
“The amount that you learn from running for these positions (mayor, city council, city newspaper editor, election board official, etc.), and sometimes losing is so much more rewarding than sitting on the sidelines and watching the week go by,” Miceli observed.
“A lot of the time was spent doing meaningful activities and learning so much more in one week than I really felt like any other week I’ve learned anything,” he added. “It was fun to feel like I was having an impact on people and being able to create legislation and have different ideas to help people.”
American Legion Post Boys State Chairman Alan Van Saun is an alumnus of the ALBJS program and while the program has evolved over the years, its core mechanics haven’t changed, he maintains. Van Saun distinctly remembers showing up on the first day, immediately getting placed into a fictional city, having elections, establishing a party platform and attending seminars and – like Miceli said – making fast friends.
“I left with a much better appreciation for what makes our country great, and it was something that definitely stuck with me as I went on to go serve in the military,” Van Saun recalled. “My hope is that these boys will find a time in their life where they will get involved with Boys State from a support standpoint and give back to the program, because I think that’s what makes it great.”
