Students ready for 2014 American Legion Boys State (WDBJ7)

WDBJ7 in Roanoke was on hand to mark the beginning of the 72nd American Legion Virginia Boys State at Radford University on Sunday, June 15.

More than 800 high school junior men, selected by local American Legion Posts, will spend a week immersed in the principles of United States government. They will participate in mock legislative sessions and court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.

Some of the top leaders in Virginia state and local government, including Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, will be among the speakers to provide participants with valuable lessons in politics.

"Boys State provides us with an opportunity to do so, to learn truly what it means to be an American from the citizens' perspective, from the political perspective, basically in a way they don't teach you otherwise," said student Kevin Leinberger in an interview with WDBJ7.

This is the second year that Virginia Boys State has been held at Radford University.

Jun 16, 2014