An adventure into life and political education.
Buckeye Boys State will be held June 8 – 15, 2025 at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
TO SEE THE BROSHURE CLICK; BBSbookletDraftv3-1.pdf
Mission Statement
The mission of The American Legion Buckeye Boys State is to provide an educational and leadership program that exposes young men to the rights and privileges, the duties and responsibilities, and the love for God and Country necessary to being self-‐governing citizens.
Vision Statement
Through a practical, objective, nonpartisan approach, participants in the American Legion Buckeye Boys State program are exposed to fundamental democratic principles in local, county and state elections and governmental functions which prepare them for leadership roles as patriotic American citizens.
For additional information on Buckeye Boys State, please click the link(s) below:
http://www.buckeyeboysstate.com/
Interested in being a potential Boys State Delegate? Scan the QR code for more information:
A LETTER FROM A BUCKEYE BOYS STATE ATTENDEE – 2014
Michael Geisler
2829 Westchester Rd.
Ottowa Hills Ohio 43615
Dear Mr. Kliem and the American Legion Members of Post 553:
Thank you so much for sending me to Buckeye Boys’ State (BBS). As is advertised, this program was really “A week to shape a lifetime.” I just wanted to tell you a little about my personal experience at BBS to show how much of an impact the program had on me. When I first arrived, I was dead set on being a Supreme Court Justice. I went to the Secretary of State’s office, got a petition, and within a matter of only a couple of hours I obtained the necessary 54 signatures. Come election time, I was actually able to place 2nd overall in the primaries, but failed to win a spot on the Court in the general election. At this point in my life, I have been very blessed to have never lost an election, but losing the election for Supreme Court Justice taught me quite a bit. I learned that, in life, it is okay to lose.
Losing is a natural part of life. It’s as simple as that. What really matters, though, is how you
respond to losing. Through this program, I truly experienced how God doesn’t close a door
without opening a window. After losing the election, I decided to start a private law firm with 4 other delegates. Through that experience, I learned an incredible amount of information about our state’s government and particularly the court system. The highlight of my experience was that I was actually asked to be an attorney representing the Bar Association in a lawsuit against the state auditor, and my side won the case! Had I not lost the election, I would not have had a chance to be a member of that lawsuit truly exemplifying the fact that we as humans don’t know what God’s plan is for us, but He only means good. On Monday morning, Governor Kasich talked to us about living a life full of purpose, which I firmly believe. God has a set purpose in life for all of us, and I believe BBS has helped that picture become a little clearer for me.
Secondly, I am extremely grateful for BBS because it showed me that there is still a solid group of people who love America, and, more importantly, who love God. My generation is one that is filled with apathy. Many people are completely unable to even see outside of themselves.
Spending a week with many members of the American Legion made me feel the utmost amount of gratitude knowing that all of these people, and all of you at post 553, were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve your love of freedom and of the United States of America. I am eternally grateful that people like you of the American Legion were willing to put their lives on the line so that people like me would be able to live in peace in the USA: In my generation, people tend to look to celebrities and sports figures as being heroes, but I want to let you know that all of you are the real heroes. Your proven dedication and love for our community, freedom,
the United States of America, and God have made all of you my heroes. I hope that one day!
I’ll be able to impact someone as much as you nominating me for BBS has impacted me.
Again, thank you so much for this experience. I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend the program that truly was a week to “shape a lifetime.”
God bless you all.
Sincerely, Michael Geisler