Albright County started the day with another great flag raising around the flag pole at SUNY Brockport college. At ALA EGS we are learning how to properly raise the flag and show respect. Remember to take off your hats, even patriotic ones, when you are saying the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem! Angelou County led our flag lowering ceremony, and explained the meaning of the 12 folds of the flag. The county also led all ALA EGS citizens in singing “Happy Birthday” to America!

Today’s next speaker in our ALA EGS Speaker Series is someone that has been among us all week and shared with us a unique vantage point from her perspective and experiences that include a career in the US Air Force, something that some of our citizens may be interested in pursuing. Sharon Chaplain, E4 Air Force Veteran motivated, inspired, and enlightened our ALA EGS citizens with her journey.

We Got to Work…. on Bills!

The Nationalists and Federalists committee members are hard at work! They need to make improvements in Girls State by writing bills that will address the issues each of our counties face. Citizens diligently wrote bills, discussed problems, and came up with creative solutions. They basically had to make it WORK! Meeting with our ALA EGS Political Advisors and ALA EGS Counselors to help guide their discussions and ideas was so helpful! We can’t wait to read these bills at Legislative Session Thursday and see the impact we will make at Girls State!

WE LOVE THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE!

What a special time to be at ALA Empire Girls State on Independence Day! Our patriotism was on full display today!

Ceremony for the Disposal of Unserviceable Flags

Tubman County led the Ceremony for Unserviceable Flags. In 1937, the American Legion passed a resolution about flag retirement ceremonies, and its members created the flag code which states that “the flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.” As such, the ceremonies are held in a specific manner. Participants stand aligned in two rows facing each other, as the unserviceable flag is reviewed by members before placing the flag on a small fire. The ashes of the unserviceable flag are buried as a sign of respect. Thank you to the members of Tubman County and ALA Department of New York’s Americanism Chairman Lucille Mozzillo for leading this respectful way to dispose of unserviceable flags.

40 speeches and a party platform? Oh yeah we can do that!

In ALA Empire Girls State, citizens elect a Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, and Attorney General. But before that, they need to determine those state nominations in their own party. The Nats and Feds held elections for each office in their party caucuses tonight. We listened to all the candidates qualifications and ALA EGS citizens voted for the person they believed will win! Congratulations to all of the nominees and the winners! We can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow for Rally, Town Hall, and elections!!!