Ella Homewood selected to attend American Legion Auxiliary Girls State event in Des Moines this year
Ella Homewood ...
Iowa Girls State sponsored by The American Legion Auxiliary of Iowa is scheduled to be held June 10-15 this year on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines. American Legion Auxiliary Scenic Unit #722 of Harpers Ferry has selected Waukon High School junior Ella Homewood, daughter of Jimmy and Heather Homewood of Waukon, as its Girls State Citizen for this year’s event. In addition to attending school, her interests also include art and horseback riding.
American Legion Auxiliary Iowa Girls State is one of the premier programs sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and was started by a dream of four women over 75 years ago in hopes of teaching young women about the political process. Girls State is a “learning by doing” program, which takes the girls through the entire political process.
It covers city government, which is non-partisan in Iowa. Each citizen is assigned to a residential floor, which is designated as her city for the week. Early in the week, the girls elect their mayors and city councils, transact city business, pass city ordinances and work on a city project for judging later.
They are also then divided into political parties and campaign to get their party’s candidates elected and create party loyalty. By the end of the week, they have elected county and state officials through that process.
Friday evening of the event, Inauguration is held which includes the closing of the final joint session of the House and Senate and the installation of the Governor and her officials. Scholarships and merit awards are presented and the American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation Senators are announced.
During the week, the American Legion Auxiliary President speaks about the various Auxiliary programs and there are several featured speakers who present on a variety of subjects. The presiding American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Governor opens and closes each day’s session and there are several activities throughout the week such as daily flag raising and lowering and a candle-lighting ceremony. American Legion Auxiliary Iowa Girls State also has a store which stocks items such as apparel, notebooks, and fun items that can be purchased.
Girls State Citizens must be between their junior and senior year of high school and are selected by their local American Legion Auxiliary Unit. The week at American Legion Auxiliary Iowa Girls State is packed full with activities from dawn to dusk and promises to be a week attendees will never forget.
