Pictured are, in back, Stanley Kawski, County chaplain, Post 434 Brocton; Bill Schutt. Post 874 Clymer; Leonard Neckers, Vice Commander of Post 874. In front are Frank Pratt, Boys State Chair of Post 874; Benjamin Cooke, Boys State Honoree of Clymer School; Past District Commander Henry Link, Post 434 Brocton; and Kirk L. Miller, Chautauqua County Commander, Post 59 Fredonia.

CLYMER — Benjamin David Cooke, son of Pastor David and Heather Cooke of Findley Lake, was selected as a junior at Clymer Central School to attend Boys State at SUNY Morrisville as one of 600 students throughout New York state this past summer.

Cooke was recognized at the September meeting of American Legion Post 874, which was held at the Dutch Village Restaurant on Sept. 12 for his participation in this prestigious program. He spoke to the members in attendance about his experience at Boys State and expressed gratitude for being selected to represent the Clymer Community and Clymer American Legion Post 874. Other members in attendance included Clymer FBLA representatives Lisa Perry, Natalie White and Jeffrey Perry; Benjamin Cooke’s family including his parents, grandparents, and siblings.

Cooke was congratulated by Past District Commander Henry Link, 8th District and County American Legion Chaplain Stanley Kawski, and urrent County Commander Kirk Miller. He was presented with a medal commemorating his graduation from Boys State by the Clymer Legion Post.

Boys State is a program that teaches critical thinking, leadership through experience at all levels of mock government and essential life skills. The program runs yearly at Morrisville State University for one week in the summer.

It is one of the most sought after youth programs offered by the American Legion. Successful completion prepares young men for leadership roles in college as well as local community, county, state and federal levels of government service and political office. Some of the brightest minds in America have been to Boys State.

The program recruits boys in the Junior year from local schools by way of their hometown American Legion. The cost is free to them and they are rewarded with valued experiences, new friends, and memories to last a lifetime. Any boy in their junior year of high school is welcome to apply. Applications are found at your local American Legion post , or through your schools guidance office.