Annually, Sykesville Memoriall Post No. 223 sends three individuals to Boys State, the national program of The American Legion that exposes the youths to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen.

The youths selected each year are all juniors in their respective schools. The three juniors spent several weeks at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD participating in activities, including legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.

Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935, when it organized to counter the Fascist inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

The Maryland Boys State typically begins on Fathers Day and runs through the following Friday. To be eligible for Boys State, a youth must be a male who have successfully completed their junior year in high school and not have entered their senior year of high school.
Any boy who has previously attended a Boys State is not eligible.

Applications may be obtained through the local high school class counselors or by downloading an application by clicking here.

For more questions, conatct Sykesville Memorial Post No. 223 at 410-795-7242 or the Department of Maryland Headquarters at (410)-752-1405.