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Boys Nation senators head to Capitol Hill for face-to-face meetings with their members of Congress.

An American Legion Boys Nation tradition known as “Hill Day” brought this year’s senators – along with their American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation counterparts – to Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet face to face with their U.S. senators and representatives, and their staff.

But the experience was much more than handshakes, a few minutes of conversation and a photo for some of the senators.

“You see these people on TV, you see them in the news, literally anything: magazines, newspapers, tabloids, stuff like that,” said Ohio senator Joe Beauchesne after having his picture taken with Sen. Bernie Moreno on the U.S. Capitol steps. “So, it’s kind of like they are celebrities in their own right. To think that they’re from your own hometown or area, representing you … being able to meet them is a really incredible experience.”

Beauchesne and fellow Ohio senator Duncan Hass also had a chance to meet U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, as well as staff from the offices of U.S. Reps. Max Miller and Emilia Sykes.

“I’ve always been a person who has admired and looked up to the legislative branch of government,” Hass said. “And it’s always been a bit of a dream for me to one day work here. They feel larger than life. They don’t feel like real people. More like figures. To see them in person, it’s humbling … and one of the most exciting parts of this program.”

Beauchesne also was moved by being inside of the nation’s capital for the very first time. “I absolutely love it: the architecture, the ambience, the grandeur of the whole place,” he said. “It’s really an experience. You really feel it around you. There’s a feeling of respect and reverence. I’ve absolutely loved it.”

Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming also opened up her office to the Boys/Girls Nation delegation from her state. Not only did she meet with the four of them, but she also gave a tour of her office and staff, spending more than 45 minutes with them.

Lummis’ generosity with her time left Wyoming senator Blake Anderson impressed. “It was amazing … being a senator in this high position, and taking time to meet with someone like us, her constituents, and just talk to us and have an honest conversation and ask about our interests,” he said. “Taking us around the office, it’s a very cool experience, and I’m honestly shocked.”

Anderson had met Lummis a few times before Thursday, but it wasn’t like Thursday’s experience. “Most of our interactions were like through short meetings or introductions or a couple quick Q&As. But nothing to this extent,” he said. “This was almost like, honestly, surreal. You rarely get this close to politicians, and she seemed more personal. She was talking about our interests and could relate to us. She gave us a very thorough introduction (to her staff) even though she’s a senator and is very busy, so that was awesome.”

Fellow Wyoming senator Charles Frausto was in D.C. for the first time in his life. “This is the stuff you see on television all the time,” he said. “You see all these senators walking around and all these representatives walking around, knowing who they are and what they’ve done. It’s very surreal.”

Lummis had high praise for the programs that brought all four senators to the nation’s capital. “You don’t go to Boys Nation or Girls Nation if you’re not ready to lead,” she told the senators. “I’m not sure anything looks better on a résumé than Boys Nation or Girls Nation. A lot of you are going to end up in the legislative process, on school boards and other places doing wonderful things.”

West Virginia senators Kethan Neginhal and Jackson Vanhoose were able to get some facetime with Sen. Shelley Capito Moore. Both saw her speak at West Virginia Boys State but preferred a more personal meeting.

“I was able to see her speaking on a stage, where you can’t really gauge someone’s personality,” Neginhal said. “Seeing how welcoming and nice she was just really cool because it’s like, ‘That’s my representative.’ It’s always nice to put a personality to the person that’s representing you.”

Vanhoose appreciated Capito giving her time “to the future of West Virginia. The Hill’s a special place. You never know who you’re going to bump into. It’s pretty cool … to see where everything happens.”

Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, who participated in both Utah Boys State and then Boys Nation in 1985 – his father was a 1952 Boys Nation Senator – shared some stories from his experience with Utah senators Yamato Lerwill and Josiah Webster.

“I feel honored. It’s a very humbling experience being here and seeing people represent me,” Webster said. “And not only me, but people across the country. I just feel proud to be here.”

Webster also was impressed with the Capitol Building as well.

“Seeing all the marble floors and the way the building is laid out, it’s something reminiscent of Rome,” Webster said. “I walked through these buildings and think that people are going to be looking at these buildings in 1,000 years.”

Lerwill, Boys Nation’s secretary of the senate, said he came away from his meeting with Lee a bit reassured. “Initially, I came into this a little nervous, because me and Sen. Lee don’t share a lot of ideological or political views that are similar,” he said. “But it was great meeting him because you can tell he’s just a person, just like us. He cares about Utahns and us and who we are as people.”

Friday’s Happenings. The senators have a morning tour of the White House, a final senate session in the afternoon and then Boys Nation graduation in the evening.

Follow the happenings at American Legion Boys Nation (#BoysNation2025):

·       Web: www.legion.org/get-involved/youth-programs/boys-state-boys-nation

·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanlegionhq

·       X: @ALBoysNation

·       Instagram: @theamericanlegion

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