Connecticut Student Senator Elected Secretary of The American Legion Boys Nation

By a large margin, Daniel Meaney was chosen Senate Secretary of The American Legion Boys Nation.

“They chose me. It was a big honor,” said the Ellington, Conn. native. “I was going to lay back a little bit and just go with the flow … I gave my first speech and I got back in to it, then I wanted to give another speech. I wanted to get up in front of the crowd again.”

As Secretary, Meaney will maintain the Journal of the Boys Nation Senate; examine all bills, amendments and resolutions before they go out of the possession of the senate to ensure that they are correctly enrolled and, when signed by the President of the Senate, shall present the same to the President of Boys Nation for his action. He is also expected to be thoroughly familiar with those provisions of the Standing Rules for Conducting Business in the Boys Nation Senate which relate to the duties of the secretary.

Boys Nation, a signature program of the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization, provides an intensive week-long, hands-on education in American politics and the legislative system for a select group of high school students each year.

“I think [Boys State and Boys Nation] has opened my eyes and doors for me,” said Meaney. “When you are with the best of the best, it’s eye opening to see that all these people are out there – to see that people can be so right and so smart and completely different at the same time.”

The incoming senior at Ellington High School plans on attending Williams College and is considering a career as an intellectual property attorney.

Two representatives from each of the 49 Boys States represent their home state as a senator. The senators caucus at the beginning of the session, organize into committees and conduct hearings on bills, allowing delegates to learn the proper legislative procedures according to the U.S. Senate. Activities include mock party conventions, legislative elections, debates, speeches and visits to Capitol Hill and other historical sites. Delegates will also visit the offices of their state’s respective members of Congress and present bills of their own creation.

Since Boys Nation began in 1946, a number of its graduates have been elected to public office, including presidents, congressmen, state governors and state legislators.

Photos of Meaney at Boys Nation are available at http://elvis.legion.org:8080/?w=10Win5j