Caleb Weiland

Caleb Weiland, an incoming senior at Beresford High School, has been selected as a senator for American Legion Boys Nation in the Washington, D.C. area, July 19-26.  Weiland is the first Beresford student to be selected for Boys Nation.

Boys Nation is an annual American Legion program that includes civic training, leadership development and a focus on Americanism.  Weiland previously served as State’s Attorney at South Dakota Boys State, which had roughly 100 participants.  Additionally, he served as City Alderman, City Attorney and City Party Chair.  Weiland will be joined by Isaac Buchholtz of T.F. Riggs High School in representing South Dakota at Boys Nation.

At Beresford, Weiland has served as Junior Class President and Student Body President.  His other activities include Track and Field, Cross Country, FFA, FCCLA, Debate, Speech, Drama Club, Spanish Club and Student Congress.  His accolades include Best School Spirit of Junior Class, Union County Fair King, and United States Senate Youth Program First Alternate.  A resident of Beresford, Weiland plans to attend the University of South Dakota and pursue a degree in political science and eventually go to law school.  Weiland's goal is to eventually be a politician.

To arrange an interview with Weiland, contact Andy Proffet at wproffet@legion.org.

About Boys Nation:

During their eight days at Boys Nation, 100 senators (two from each state with the exception of Hawaii, and the District of Columbia) will learn from a hands-on approach how the U.S. Senate and the federal government function.  Young men are divided into two political parties, the Federalists and the Nationalists, each of which conducts a party convention, sets a platform and nominates members for elected offices, including Boys Nation president, vice president and party leaders.  Each senator will also write, introduce and debate a bill of his choosing before an appropriate Senate committee, and if successful at that level the legislation will be voted on by the whole Senate.  Bills passing the Senate are later signed or vetoed by the Boys Nation president.

The young men will also have an opportunity to tour the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall and Korean War Memorial.  They will also present a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, see the Iwo Jima Memorial and visit Capitol Hill for meetings with their state’s U.S. senators.  They may have the opportunity to visit the White House as well. In addition, delegates will attend a dinner at a nearby Legion post hosted by National Commander Brett Reistad of Virginia.

This year’s crop of Boys Nation senators represent the finest of nearly 20,000 incoming seniors who attended the 50 annual Boys State programs.  Famous Boys Nation alumni include former President Bill Clinton, actor Donal Logue, Governors Chris Christie and Scott Walker, and Senators Mike Lee and Tom Cotton.  Notable Boys State alumni include Tom Brokaw, Michael Jordan, Rush Limbaugh, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Neil Armstrong, Roger Ebert and Justice Samuel Alito.

Congratulations Caleb on this tremendous honor!

Andy Proffet, Assistant Editor at The American Legion National Headquarters, in Indianapolis, Indiana, provided the above article.