American Legion

TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN LEGION IN THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE MENTORING AND SPONSORSHIP OF YOUTH PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ADVOCATING PATRIOTISM AND HONOR, PROMOTING A STRONG NATIONAL SECURITY, AND CONTINUED DEVOTION TO OUR FELLOW SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS.

BASEBALL: WESTWOOD SPONSORS A SENIOR TEAM FOR PLAYERS 19 AND UNDER AND A JUNIOR TEAM FOR PLAYERS 17 AND UNDER. THESE TEAMS ARE GEARED FOR THE SERIOUS PLAYER WHO INTENDS TO PLAY BASEBALL AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL IS ALSO A CHAMPION OF EQUALITY, MAKING TEAMMATES OUT OF YOUNG ATHLETES FROM ALL SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A STEPPING STONE TO ADULTHOOD FOR MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WOULD GO ON TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY, RAISE FAMILIES OR PLAY THE SPORT AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

BOYS STATE IS A PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN LEGION DEVELOPED FROM THE CONCEPT THAT YOUTH SHOULD BE OFFERED A BETTER PERSPECTIVE OF THE PRACTICAL OPERATION OF GOVERNMENT: THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS AN INTEGRAL PART AND COMMENSURATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHARACTER AND SUCCESS OF HIS GOVERNMENT. AS SUCH, IT IS AN ACTIVITY OF HIGH EDUCATIONAL VALUE, BORN OF A NEED FOR YOUTH TRAINING IN PRACTICAL CITIZENSHIP. TO ELABORATE BOYS STATE IS EASILY CLASSIFIED AS A LEADERSHIP ACTION PROGRAM WHERE QUALIFIED MALE HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS TAKE PART IN A PRACTICAL GOVERNMENT COURSE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP IN THE YOUNG CITIZENS A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT AND TO IMPRESS UPON THEM THE FACT THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS JUST WHAT THEY MAKE IT. TO SUMMARIZE BOYS STATE IS AN OBJECTIVE CITIZENSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH INCULCATES INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION. IT IS OPERATED ON THE BASIS OF THE POLITICAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION EXISTING IN MASSACHUSETTS, INCLUDING ALL LEVELS FROM THE MUNICIPALITY TO THE STATE.

GIRLS STATE/GIRLS NATION PROGRAMS PROVIDE A NONPARTISAN PARTICIPATORY PROGRAM THAT TEACHES ELIGIBLE HIGH SCHOOL FEMALES RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP GROUNDED IN ETHICS, THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR NATION'S FOUNDERS AND RESPECT FOR GOD AND COUNTRY. HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR JUNIOR YEAR SPEND AN INTENSIVE WEEK OF STUDY WORKING TOGETHER AS SELF-GOVERNING CITIZENS AT AUXILIARY SPONSORED GIRLS STATE PROGRAMS IN EVERY STATE. EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH ATTENDING THIS PROGRAM ARE PAID FOR BY WESTWOOD AMERICAN LEGION POST 320. PARTICIPANTS LEARN HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THEIR STATE'S GOVERNMENT IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR FUTURE ROLES AS RESPONSIBLE ADULT CITIZENS.

THE AMERICAN LEGION, DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS, INC. SPONSORS A "STUDENT TROOPER PROGRAM" IN COOPERATION WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE ACADEMY EVERY YEAR.THE GOAL IS TO RECRUIT YOUTHS REPRESENTING ALL COMMUNITIES AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND TO INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE JOB OF POLICE OFFICERS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EXPOSE YOUNG ADULTS TO THE DEMANDS OF POLICE TRAINING AND TO DEVELOP BETTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE POLICE THAT SERVE THEM. THE STUDENT TROOPER PROGRAM IS AN INTENSIVE, ONE WEEK, RESIDENTIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 15 THRU 17. THE PROGRAM IS HELD AT THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE ACADEMY IN NEW BRAINTREE.THE AMERICAN LEGION ORATORICAL CONTEST EXISTS TO DEVELOP DEEPER KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. SINCE 1938, THE PROGRAM HAS PRESENTED PARTICIPANTS WITH AN ACADEMIC SPEAKING CHALLENGE THAT TEACHES IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP QUALITIES, THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION'S LAWS, THE ABILITY TO THINK AND SPEAK CLEARLY, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.