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Petersen, Smith attend Boys State
By Maxine Christensen
Derek Petersen, son of Pat and Mary Petersen of Brayton, and Andrew Smith, son of Sue and Michael Petersen, also of Brayton, both juniors in the Exira High School, were chosen to attend Boys State this year, and on Sunday evening, July 13, gave their report at the Brayton Town Hall.
The meeting opened with Commander Al Ashcraft of Hamlin, Commander of the Brayton Legion Post #350 gave the welcome to the crowd of 25 people attending. This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the introduction of the two boys.
Derek addressed the audience first and thanked the Brayton Legion for the opportunity to attend Boys State. He remarked that at first he was a little nervous, because of the fact that he and Andrew were separated, and he was among a large of group of boys which he did not know. After settling in with his roommates, he found out that this was going to be an incredible experience that he would treasure for a lifetime.
Camp Dodge is located north of Des Moines and is “a real military base” complete with guns, cannons, barracks, planes and helicopters and this is when the two boys realized that they were going to be like “real soldiers” taking orders, following rules, running for office, and sleeping in barracks. The soon learned that they would be making their own beds “military style”, and inspections would be held each morning and their barracks had to be in good order.
Each morning starts at 6 a.m. and you “make your bed, clean your barracks and get to chow.” Morning calisthenics are held and then breakfast. Both boys agreed that the food was excellent.
The first order of business was to get to know each other, and then decide who was going to run for the different office, as Camp Dodge is run as a government would be run. Derek was elected as the mailman, and had to deliver mail each day. He was one that was chosen to run for a state representative, and because of this, there had to be posters made, campaigning to be done on why he should be elected, ideas to be suggested that would appeal to the voters. A previous visit with a couple of friends who had also been Boy Staters, Ben and Casey, gave him an idea that he put into practice. They suggested that he try to convince voters that their compound was a religious compound named “Moeller Temple,” and thus would not have to pay taxes. It proved to be a good idea, as he was elected to the post.
The boys found out that one of their jobs was to learn different laws, make different laws, and they found out they could accomplish a lot of things in a short time.
As a state representative, Derek found out actually how hard it is to get a bill approved and passed. Approved a couple of years ago was the Warranty Deed which could be given for the price of $1.
Both he and Andrew agreed that there were very good instructors that helped them through the week, and also several good speakers that spoke to them about every night through the week.
Each morning the flag is raised and the Pledge of Allegiance recited. Most of the time volunteers do this, and in the evenings the volunteers lower the flag.
\There was recreational time and games were played including football. Swimming is not allowed at Camp Dodge anymore after a “swimming fatality” a couple of years ago.
Both boys are on the honor roll, and both will be seniors this fall at the Exira High School.
The meeting opened with Commander Al Ashcraft of Hamlin, Commander of the Brayton Legion Post #350 gave the welcome to the crowd of 25 people attending. This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the introduction of the two boys.
Derek addressed the audience first and thanked the Brayton Legion for the opportunity to attend Boys State. He remarked that at first he was a little nervous, because of the fact that he and Andrew were separated, and he was among a large of group of boys which he did not know. After settling in with his roommates, he found out that this was going to be an incredible experience that he would treasure for a lifetime.
Camp Dodge is located north of Des Moines and is “a real military base” complete with guns, cannons, barracks, planes and helicopters and this is when the two boys realized that they were going to be like “real soldiers” taking orders, following rules, running for office, and sleeping in barracks. The soon learned that they would be making their own beds “military style”, and inspections would be held each morning and their barracks had to be in good order.
Each morning starts at 6 a.m. and you “make your bed, clean your barracks and get to chow.” Morning calisthenics are held and then breakfast. Both boys agreed that the food was excellent.
The first order of business was to get to know each other, and then decide who was going to run for the different office, as Camp Dodge is run as a government would be run. Derek was elected as the mailman, and had to deliver mail each day. He was one that was chosen to run for a state representative, and because of this, there had to be posters made, campaigning to be done on why he should be elected, ideas to be suggested that would appeal to the voters. A previous visit with a couple of friends who had also been Boy Staters, Ben and Casey, gave him an idea that he put into practice. They suggested that he try to convince voters that their compound was a religious compound named “Moeller Temple,” and thus would not have to pay taxes. It proved to be a good idea, as he was elected to the post.
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As a state representative, Derek found out actually how hard it is to get a bill approved and passed. Approved a couple of years ago was the Warranty Deed which could be given for the price of $1.
Both he and Andrew agreed that there were very good instructors that helped them through the week, and also several good speakers that spoke to them about every night through the week.
Each morning the flag is raised and the Pledge of Allegiance recited. Most of the time volunteers do this, and in the evenings the volunteers lower the flag.
\There was recreational time and games were played including football. Swimming is not allowed at Camp Dodge anymore after a “swimming fatality” a couple of years ago.
Both boys are on the honor roll, and both will be seniors this fall at the Exira High School.
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